Estrella de Soria is a three-act opera by Franz Berwald

Franz Berwald

Franz Adolf Berwald was a Swedish Romantic composer who was generally ignored during his lifetime. He made his living as an orthopedic surgeon and later as the manager of a saw mill and glass factory....

, to a libretto by Otto Prechtler translated into Swedish by Ernst Wallmark.

It was first performed at the Royal Swedish Opera

Royal Swedish Opera

Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...

, Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

 on 9 April 1862 and had five performances in that run. It has never entered the repertory, although it was revived in Stockholm in 1898 and 1946. The overture, which makes use of Estrella’s first act aria, has occasionally been recorded, and a CD of extended excerpts was released by Musica Sveciae in 1994. An aria for Estrella was the first recording by Birgit Nilsson

Birgit Nilsson

right|thumb|Nilsson in 1948.Birgit Nilsson was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works...

 in 1947 (and has been since re-issued). A full score of the 1862 edition was published as Volume 17a-b of the complete Bärenreiter edition.

Roles

Role	Voice type Voice type A voice type is a particular kind of human singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics. Voice classification is the process by which human voices are evaluated and are thereby designated into voice types...	Premiere cast, 9 April 1862 (Conductor Conducting Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble... : Ludwig Norman)
Estrella, Countess of Soria	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...	Fredrika Andrée
Zulma, a Moorish princess	soprano	Strandberg
Salvaterra, A Castilian General	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...	Arnoldsson
Muza, A Moorish Prince	bass Bass (voice type) A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...	Wilman
Sambrano, A Knight	tenor	Sandström
Diego, A servant of Estrella	baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...	Arlberg
The King of Castile	bass	Walin
Chorus: Courtiers, Moors.

Act 1

The Countess de Soria (soprano) plans to marry General Salvaterra (tenor), who has won a decisive victory over the moors. However, he has also captured the Moorish Prince Muza (bass) and has fallen in love with his betrothed, the Princess Zulma (soprano). Zulma responds to Salvaterra and offers him a sash. Muza insists that Salvaterra keeps a promise to him to release him and Zulma; when Zulma says that she will stay in Castile, Muza swears vengeance. Estrella, countess of Soria has heard of the love of Salvaterra and the captive Moorish princess, but remains convinced that he will return her love.

Act 2

In the woods outside the city Salvaterra is warned by the knight Sambrano of Muza's threats, and takes Zulma to Salvaterra's castle, but is ambushed by Muza and his men. Alone at the king's palace, Estrella is downcast, while preparations continue for a victory celebration. The king of Castile offers Salvaterra the hand of Estrella but Diego, Estrella's servant notices that he is wearing a sash from Zulma; Estrella is distraught but amid the confusion the king order the celebration to continue. Muza approaches the king and announces that his bride has been stolen by Salvaterra, and draws his sword. Muza is slain and the king banishes Salvaterra.

Act 3

At a spot by the sea peasants and sailors are at work; Salvaterra and Zulma nearby. Sambrano arrives and tells his master that Estrella and Diego are approaching. When Salvaterra goes to arrange an escape by sea, Estrella notices a veiled woman and orders that she be taken to a cliff to be killed. When Salvaterra returns and finds Estrella she orders her men to take him. As a storm begins Sambrano arrives and Estrella's men are disarmed and Zulma rescued. Although Estrella calls destruction down upon her enemies, Salvaterra and Zulma put out to sea on a ship, and in despair Estrella stabs herself.

Sources

• Layton R, Van Boer BH. Franz Berwald. In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.
  
• Bärenreiter edition: Estrella de Soria