King Harald's Saga, Grand opera in three acts for unaccompanied solo 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...

 singing eight rôles (based on the saga

Saga

Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...

 'Heimskringla

Heimskringla

Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...

' by Snorri Sturlson, 1179-1241) is a monodrama

Monodrama

A monodrama is a theatrical or operatic piece played by a single actor or singer, usually portraying one character.- Monodrama in opera :...

 by Judith Weir

Judith Weir

Judith Weir CBE, is a British composer.-Biography:Her music has been appreciated by audiences and critics alike. She trained with John Tavener while still at school and subsequently with Robin Holloway at King's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1976...

, commissioned by Jane Manning

Jane Manning

Jane Manning OBE is an English concert and opera soprano, writer on music, and Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Music. She has been described by one critic as "the irrepressible, incomparable, unstoppable Ms...

 and premiered on May 17, 1979. The score was published by Novello in 1982, and lasts under ten minutes, making it a candidate for the shortest opera, and is possibly unique in having no instrumental accompaniment.

Act I

King Harald sings of his exploits: "Whereas my brother the blessed and holy man Olaf said: Love thine enemies, I say: sever their limbs until they cause no trouble." A distant fanfare announces the arrival of Earl Tostig, an English traitor who urges Harald to invade his homeland.

Act II

Harald's dead brother Saint Olaf appears in a dream to warn him the expedition is ill-fated, but Harald give the order to depart. His two wives sing a duet of farewell.

Act III

The Norwegian Army lands at Scarborough, singing a chorus of praise for their leader which is interrupted by a messenger warning of the approaching army of Harold II of England

Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...

. A surviving soldier narrates Harald's death in the battle of Stamford Bridge

Battle of Stamford Bridge

The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada of Norway and the English king's brother Tostig...

.

Epilogue

An Icelandic sage watches the corpses being brought back to Oslo: "I could have told him it would end like this."