The Doomsday Prophets
Encyclopedia
The Doomsday Prophets is an opera
by Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
, to his own Swedish libretto
, composed from 1912-17. It was first performed at the Royal Opera, Stockholm
on 21 February 1919.
became a major European power. The war increased people’s worries about the end of the world and two academics claim to have calculated when Doomsday
will take place. The opera’s composition was completed during the First World War.
The first performance was conducted by Armas Järnefelt
.
The Muggen Inn in Uppsala
on 27 May 1647. Due to a wager between the university don
Johan Bure and Queen Kristina’s apothecary
Simon Wolimhaus, as to when the world will end (which the professor seems to be fated to lose), the innkeeper, Klas Mugg, and his daughter, Elin, look set to lose their home. Elin is in love with the studious but poor Lars, who is bullied by the ‘nobler’ students. (Lars’s aunt is also trying to match him with her own daughter.) Lars gets arrested for threatening his tormentors with Johan Papegoja’s pistol and is arraigned in front of a university tribunal, which could result in him being expelled.
Outside Uppsala cathedral
.
With Lars afraid for his future and marriage to Elin, army captain Lennart Sporre convinces Klas to let Elin marry Lars, in return for upsetting the wager, which he does by setting fire to Wolimhaus’ dog kennel (this invalidates the terms of the wager as the fire devalues the latter’s effects) under cover of a thunderstorm. He argues with the university officials that passing judgment on Lars when the end of the world is nigh is pointless. They ignore this and proceed to condemn Lars, but when the fire is discovered, he escapes during the tumult.
On Uppsala Castle
Hill. Lars is now in despair, wondering whether he should enlist in the army or emigrate. Sporre and the noble students sing a serenade to Görvel and city musicians assemble in the castle tower to welcome the queen. Sporre explains that the wager is no longer valid as the value of the properties has changed because of the fire (as he planned). As the brass blare out, Wolimhaus believes the Doomsday has arrived, but it is the Queen’s arrival and acclaim from the crowd. Lars is pardoned, is able to marry Elin and Sporre gets his beloved Görvel. The two prophets are left confounded.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
by Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
Olof Wilhelm Peterson-Berger was a Swedish composer and music critic...
, to his own Swedish libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
, composed from 1912-17. It was first performed at the Royal Opera, Stockholm
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
on 21 February 1919.
Background
Based on a story which the composer found in the journal Den svenska Mercurius (1759), the opera features several historical characters (Bure, Skytte, Queen Kristina), and is set in the university city of Uppsala just before the end of the Thirty Years’ War in which SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
became a major European power. The war increased people’s worries about the end of the world and two academics claim to have calculated when Doomsday
Doomsday
Doomsday may refer to:* End times, a prophesied time of tribulation that would precede the Second Coming of the Messiah in Abrahamic religions-Fiction:* Doomsday , a 1927 novel by Warwick Deeping* Doomsday , a DC comic book character...
will take place. The opera’s composition was completed during the First World War.
The first performance was conducted by Armas Järnefelt
Armas Järnefelt
Edvard Armas Järnefelt , was a Finnish composer and conductor.Armas Järnefelt was born in Vyborg, in the Grand Duchy of Finland, the son of general August Aleksander Järnefelt and Elisabeth Järnefelt . His siblings were Kasper, Arvid, Erik, Ellida, Ellen, Aino, Hilja and Sigrid...
.
Roles
- Captain Lennart Sporre
- Elin, daughter of Klas Mugg
- Lars Bryngelsson, student, sweetheart of Elin
- Klas Mugg, Elin’s father
- Östen, brother of Lars
- Johan Bure], professor
- Simon Wolimhaus, apothecary
- Rector Magnificus
- Queen Kristina of Sweden
- Bengt Skytte, a noble, governor of Uppsala
- Fru Kerstin
- Görvel Mårdh, Captain Sporre’s beloved
- Johan PapegojaJohan PapegojaJohan Papegoja was the fifth governor of the Swedish Colony of New Sweden.Johan Papegoja had been one of the early Swedish settlers on the Delaware. Papegoja is the Swedish word for parrot. He served as a Lieutenant at New Sweden under governor Johan Björnsson Printz...
- Brita, aunt of Elin
- Emerentia, daughter of Brita
- Måns Korck, noble student
- Johan Stjernadler, noble student
- Göran Sperling, noble student
- Arvid Ribbing, noble student
- Professors, students
Synopsis
- Act 1
The Muggen Inn in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
on 27 May 1647. Due to a wager between the university don
University don
A don is a fellow or tutor of a college or university, especially traditional collegiate universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in England.The term — similar to the title still used for Catholic priests — is a historical remnant of Oxford and Cambridge having started as ecclesiastical...
Johan Bure and Queen Kristina’s apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
Simon Wolimhaus, as to when the world will end (which the professor seems to be fated to lose), the innkeeper, Klas Mugg, and his daughter, Elin, look set to lose their home. Elin is in love with the studious but poor Lars, who is bullied by the ‘nobler’ students. (Lars’s aunt is also trying to match him with her own daughter.) Lars gets arrested for threatening his tormentors with Johan Papegoja’s pistol and is arraigned in front of a university tribunal, which could result in him being expelled.
- Act 2
Outside Uppsala cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral is a cathedral located centrally in the city of Uppsala, Sweden. It dates back to the late 13th century and at a height of 118.7 m is the tallest church building in Scandinavia. Originally built under Roman Catholicism and used for coronations of the Swedish monarch, since the...
.
With Lars afraid for his future and marriage to Elin, army captain Lennart Sporre convinces Klas to let Elin marry Lars, in return for upsetting the wager, which he does by setting fire to Wolimhaus’ dog kennel (this invalidates the terms of the wager as the fire devalues the latter’s effects) under cover of a thunderstorm. He argues with the university officials that passing judgment on Lars when the end of the world is nigh is pointless. They ignore this and proceed to condemn Lars, but when the fire is discovered, he escapes during the tumult.
- Act 3
On Uppsala Castle
Uppsala Castle
Uppsala Castle is a 16th century royal castle in the historical city of Uppsala, Sweden. Throughout much of its early history, the castle played a major role in the history of Sweden....
Hill. Lars is now in despair, wondering whether he should enlist in the army or emigrate. Sporre and the noble students sing a serenade to Görvel and city musicians assemble in the castle tower to welcome the queen. Sporre explains that the wager is no longer valid as the value of the properties has changed because of the fire (as he planned). As the brass blare out, Wolimhaus believes the Doomsday has arrived, but it is the Queen’s arrival and acclaim from the crowd. Lars is pardoned, is able to marry Elin and Sporre gets his beloved Görvel. The two prophets are left confounded.