Violanta
Encyclopedia
Violanta is a one-act opera
by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
. The libretto
is by the Austrian playwright Hans Müller-Einigen
. It is Korngold's second opera, written when he was only seventeen years old.
, Op. 7, with Bruno Walter
conducting. The North American premiere was given on 5 November 1927 at the Metropolitan Opera
in New York City with Maria Jeritza
as Violanta, Walter Kirchhoff as Alfonso, Clarence Whitehill
as Simone, Angelo Badà
as Giovanni, and Artur Bodanzky
conducting.
On the night of the great Carnival, Simone in vain searches his house for his wife Violanta. Ever since her sister Nerina committed suicide (after having been seduced by Alfonso, the Prince of Naples), she has been bent on vengeance. Simone is about to leave for the Carnival with the painter Giovanni Bracca, when Violanta appears. After dismissing Bracca, she reveals to Simone that she has (anonymously) arranged a meeting with Alfonso in their house, where she wants her husband to murder him. Initially Simone is horrified at this plan, but he finally succumbs to Violanta's promises and threats. The plan is that Violanta will receive Alfonso in her room, and once he is disarmed she will sing the Carnival song as a signal that Simone should enter and murder him.
Alfonso arrives. During their meeting Violanta reveals her true identity and her intention to avenge her sister. However, when Alfonso explains to her the course of his life and talks about his longing for death, Violanta realises that she really loves him and refuses to give the signal. Violanta bemoans her fate, but Alfonso implores her to think only of the present moment: they embrace and sing of the sublimity of pure love.
Their ecstatic bliss is interrupted by Simone who calls out to his wife. The lovers realise that their dream is at and end, and spurred on by Alfonso Violanta sings the fateful song with hysterical abandon. Simone enters and tries to stab Alfonso, but Violanta interposes herself and is mortally wounded. She dies in Simone's arms.
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 Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austro-Hungarian film and romantic music composer. While his compositional style was considered well out of vogue at the time he died, his music has more recently undergone a reevaluation and a gradual reawakening of interest...
. The 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...
is by the Austrian playwright Hans Müller-Einigen
Hans Müller-Einigen
Hans Müller was a German language writer, author of screenplays and director...
. It is Korngold's second opera, written when he was only seventeen years old.
Performance history
It was premiered on 28 March 1916 at the National Theatre Munich together with the composer's other one-act opera Der Ring des PolykratesDer Ring des Polykrates (opera)
Der Ring des Polykrates , Op. 7 is a one-act opera by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The libretto, written by Leo Feld and reworked by the composer's father Julius Korngold, is based on a drama by Heinrich Teweles....
, Op. 7, with Bruno Walter
Bruno Walter
Bruno Walter was a German-born conductor. He is considered one of the best known conductors of the 20th century. Walter was born in Berlin, but is known to have lived in several countries between 1933 and 1939, before finally settling in the United States in 1939...
conducting. The North American premiere was given on 5 November 1927 at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York City with Maria Jeritza
Maria Jeritza
Maria Jeritza , born Marie Jedličková, was a celebrated Moravian soprano singer, long associated with the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera...
as Violanta, Walter Kirchhoff as Alfonso, Clarence Whitehill
Clarence Whitehill
Clarence Whitehill was a leading American bass-baritone. He sang on both sides of the Atlantic and is best remembered for his association with the music dramas of Richard Wagner....
as Simone, Angelo Badà
Angelo Badà
Angelo Badà was an Italian operatic tenor. He had a lengthy association with the Metropolitan Opera of New York City where he gave a total of 2,170 performance in 94 different operas in over 100 different roles from 1908 through 1938. Only two singers in the Met's history have made more...
as Giovanni, and Artur Bodanzky
Artur Bodanzky
Artur Bodanzky was an Austrian-American conductor particularly associated with the operas of Wagner.- Career :...
conducting.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 28 March 1916 (Conductor: – Bruno Walter Bruno Walter Bruno Walter was a German-born conductor. He is considered one of the best known conductors of the 20th century. Walter was born in Berlin, but is known to have lived in several countries between 1933 and 1939, before finally settling in the United States in 1939... ) |
|---|---|---|
| Simone Trovai, military commander of the Venetian republic | 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... |
Friedrich Brodersen Friedrich Brodersen Friedrich Brodersen was a German operatic baritone. Born in Bad Boll, he studied singing with Heinrich Bertram. He made his professional opera debut in 1900... |
| Violanta, his wife | 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... |
Emmy Krüger Emmy Krüger Emmy Krüger was a German operatic soprano. She notably portrayed the title role in the world premiere of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violanta at the National Theatre Munich in 1916. In 1917 she created the role of Silla in the premiere of Hans Pfitzner's Palestrina at the Prinzregententheater... |
| Alfonso, illegitimate son of the King of Naples | 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... |
Franz Gruber Franz Gruber (tenor) Franz Gruber was a German operatic tenor who had an active career in his native country and in Austria during the first half of the 20th century.-Professional career:... |
| Giovanni Bracca, a painter | tenor | Alfred Bauberger |
| Bice | soprano | Irene von Fladung Irene von Fladung Irene von Fladung was an Austrian operatic soprano. Her voice is preserved on a few recordings made with Odeon Records.-Life and career:... |
| Barbara, Violanta's nurse | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
Luise Willer Luise Willer Luise Willer was a German operatic contralto. She made her professional opera debut in 1910 as Annius in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito. She spent most of her career performing at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. At the Bayreuth Festival she portrayed Brängane in Tristan und Isolde... |
| Mateo | tenor | Paul Kuhn Paul Kuhn Paul Kuhn was a German operatic tenor who specialized in the buffo repertoire. He studied singing in Breslau and performed at important opera houses and festivals in Germany and Austria like the Bavarian State Opera, the Bayreuth Festival, the Darmstadt Opera, and the Salzburg Festival... |
| First soldier | tenor | |
| Second soldier | baritone | |
| First maid | soprano | |
| Second maid | mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... |
Synopsis
The opera is set in 15th century Venice, at the house of Simone Trovai, military commander of the Venetian republic.On the night of the great Carnival, Simone in vain searches his house for his wife Violanta. Ever since her sister Nerina committed suicide (after having been seduced by Alfonso, the Prince of Naples), she has been bent on vengeance. Simone is about to leave for the Carnival with the painter Giovanni Bracca, when Violanta appears. After dismissing Bracca, she reveals to Simone that she has (anonymously) arranged a meeting with Alfonso in their house, where she wants her husband to murder him. Initially Simone is horrified at this plan, but he finally succumbs to Violanta's promises and threats. The plan is that Violanta will receive Alfonso in her room, and once he is disarmed she will sing the Carnival song as a signal that Simone should enter and murder him.
Alfonso arrives. During their meeting Violanta reveals her true identity and her intention to avenge her sister. However, when Alfonso explains to her the course of his life and talks about his longing for death, Violanta realises that she really loves him and refuses to give the signal. Violanta bemoans her fate, but Alfonso implores her to think only of the present moment: they embrace and sing of the sublimity of pure love.
Their ecstatic bliss is interrupted by Simone who calls out to his wife. The lovers realise that their dream is at and end, and spurred on by Alfonso Violanta sings the fateful song with hysterical abandon. Simone enters and tries to stab Alfonso, but Violanta interposes herself and is mortally wounded. She dies in Simone's arms.
Recordings
- In 2009 Sony Classical re-released a 1980 recording with Marek JanowskiMarek JanowskiMarek Janowski is a Polish-born conductor.Janowski grew up in Wuppertal, Germany, near Cologne, after his mother traveled there at the start of World War II to be with her parents...
conducting the Münchner Rundfunkorchester and Walter BerryWalter BerryWalter Berry may refer to:*Walter Berry , Austrian opera singer*Walter Berry , former professional basketball player*Walter Van Rensselaer Berry, lawyer, diplomat, friend of writers...
, Eva MartonÉva MartonÉva Marton is a Hungarian dramatic soprano, particularly known for her operatic portrayals of Puccini's Turandot and Tosca, and Wagnerian roles.- Vocal training and early years :...
and Siegfried JerusalemSiegfried JerusalemSiegfried Jerusalem is a German operatic tenor. Closely identified with the heldentenor roles of Wagner, he has performed Siegfried, Siegmund, Lohengrin, Parsifal and Tristan to wide acclaim...
in the principal roles.