Prinsessan av Cypern (Pacius)
Encyclopedia
Prinsessan av Cypern is a four-act fairy opera by Fredrik Pacius
, with a Swedish libretto by Zacharias Topelius. It is sometimes referred to as a singspiel or simply as incidental music to the play.
) in Helsinki on 28 November 1860, where the Kullervo Overture by Filip von Schantz was also performed. After the New Theatre burnt down the Princess of Cyprus was performed again at its re-opening.
Although occasionally performed after Pacius’s death, The Princess of Cyprus was neglected for many years. In the summer of 2001, a concert version was played at the 21st Finnish-Swedish Song Festival in Espoo, conducted by Ulf Söderblom, who also led a BIS
recording for CD the following year. In 2008, a stage production was mounted in Helsinki at the Swedish Theatre.
Lars-Erik Larsson wrote an opera on the same libretto
in the 1930s.
with Lemminkäinen and Kyllikki. Lemminkäinen journeys to Cyprus and carries off Princess Chryseis back to Finland. Later a blind shepherd kills Lemminkäinen, who descends to Tuonela
, but his mother brings her son back to life through prayer.
Topelius asked Pacius to make the Princess of Cyprus into a full dramatic opera, but Pacius was not interested. The music is in the style of mid 19th century romantic composers. There are elements of Finnish music in a 5/4 song and a romance 'Barn av Finland' ('Child of Finland').
Fredrik Pacius
Fredrik Pacius was a German composer and conductor who lived most of his life in Finland. He has been called the "Father of Finnish music"....
, with a Swedish libretto by Zacharias Topelius. It is sometimes referred to as a singspiel or simply as incidental music to the play.
Performance history
The piece was first performed at the inauguration of the New Theatre (now Swedish TheatreSwedish Theatre
The Swedish Theatre is a Swedish-speaking theatre in Helsinki, Finland and is located at the Erottaja square, at the end of Esplanadi . It was the first national stage of Finland.- History :...
) in Helsinki on 28 November 1860, where the Kullervo Overture by Filip von Schantz was also performed. After the New Theatre burnt down the Princess of Cyprus was performed again at its re-opening.
Although occasionally performed after Pacius’s death, The Princess of Cyprus was neglected for many years. In the summer of 2001, a concert version was played at the 21st Finnish-Swedish Song Festival in Espoo, conducted by Ulf Söderblom, who also led a BIS
BIS Records
BIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
recording for CD the following year. In 2008, a stage production was mounted in Helsinki at the Swedish Theatre.
Lars-Erik Larsson wrote an opera on the same libretto
Prinsessan av Cypern
Prinsessan av Cypern is an opera in four acts by Lars-Erik Larsson, with a Swedish libretto by Zacharias Topelius, first performed in Stockholm in 1937, but subsequently withdrawn by its composer.-Background:...
in the 1930s.
Background
Topelius’ Swedish language play the Princess of Cyprus is based on an episode in the KalevalaKalevala
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature...
with Lemminkäinen and Kyllikki. Lemminkäinen journeys to Cyprus and carries off Princess Chryseis back to Finland. Later a blind shepherd kills Lemminkäinen, who descends to Tuonela
Tuonela
Tuonela is the realm of the dead or the Underworld in Finnish and Estonian mythology. Tuonela, Tuoni, Manala and Mana are used synonymously. In Estonian mythology, it is called Toonela or Manala....
, but his mother brings her son back to life through prayer.
Topelius asked Pacius to make the Princess of Cyprus into a full dramatic opera, but Pacius was not interested. The music is in the style of mid 19th century romantic composers. There are elements of Finnish music in a 5/4 song and a romance 'Barn av Finland' ('Child of Finland').