• Year of composition: Probably 1870s
• Work category: Opera
• Text author: Frans Hedberg (1828-1908)
• First performed: 6 June 1877, the Royal Opera [the ’Gustavian Opera House’, demolished in 1892], Stockholm. Contributors: H. Håkansson (Raimond), F. Stenhammar, née Andrée (Isaura), O. Arnoldson (Rolf), C. F. Lundqvist (Björn), W. Söhrling, m. Strandberg (Astrid), S. Carlsson (Bertha), H. Strömberg (En abbot [An abbot]), G. Henrikson (En trubadur [A troubadour]), C. Hallengren (En bard [A bard]), F. Malmsjö (En hovman [A courtier]), R. Ohlsson (En viking [A viking]), V. Sandstedt (En viking [A viking]) [according to Ralf, Klas: Kungliga Teatern - repertoar 1773-1973 (The Royal Theatre. Repertoire 1773-1973) (1974)]
• Duration: Approx. 120-180 min
• Detailed duration: 3 hours (including intervals), according to the opera poster

Instrumentation

3*.2.2.2 / 4.2*.3*.1 [partituret: 4.2.4.0] / timp, perc, hp / str
(picc, 2 cornets à pistons, bass tbn)
perc: trgl, bass dr, cymb

Solo voices/choir

Raimond, Furste af Provence [King of Provence] (baritone)
Isaura, hans dotter [his daughter] (soprano)
Rolf Vidtfarle [sic], nordisk sjökonung [Nordic Sea-King] (tenor)
Björn, hans fosterbroder [his … Read morefoster brother] (baritone)
Astrid, nordisk jarladotter [Nordic Jarl's daughter] (mezzo-soprano)
Bertha, Isauras tärna [Isaura’s maid] (soprano)
En Abbot [An Abbot] (bass)
En Trubadur [A Troubadour] (tenor)
En isländsk Bard [An Icelandic Bard] (bass)
En Hofman [A Courtier] (tenor)

Två vikingar: En åldrig, En ung [Two Vikings: One aged, One young] (tenor, bass)

Hoffolk, Riddare, Tärnor, Vakt, Landtfolk, Munkar, Vikingar [Courtiers, Knights, Maids, Guard, Peasants, Monks, Vikings]

2 sopranos (Isaura, Bertha), 1 mezzo-soprano (Astrid), 3 tenors (Rolf, En trubadur, En hofman [Rolf, A Troubadour, A Courtier]), 2 baritones (Raimond, Björn), 2 basses (En abbot, En bard [An Abbot, A Bard]), and 1 tenor + 1 bass (Två vikingar [Two Vikings])

Choir: S.S.A., T.T.B.B., S.A.T.B. Collapse

Examples of printed editions

Libretto published by Albert Bonniers Förlag, Stockholm (1877)

Location for score and part material

Score in autograph and handwritten part material (orchestral parts) in the collections of Musik- och teaterbiblioteket, as well as 'Repetiteur' [Répétiteur'] material for the ballets.

• Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
• Possible call no. and autograph comment: Kungl. Operan, Operor: V 6 (partitur) [The Royal Opera, Operas: V 6 (score)]

Description of work

Akt I [Act I]
Förspel [Prelude]: Andante maëstoso - Allegro molto A major 4/4 (C) - 3/4 - 6/8
1. Introduction: Allegro leggiero D major – G major 6/8
Ballett [Ballet]: Allegro F major 3/4
2. Scen … Read moreoch Chör [Scene and Chorus]
3. Scen och Cavatina [Scene and Cavatina]
4. Marsch, Scen och Chör [March, Scene and Chorus]
Marsch: Allegro moderato C major 4/4 (C)
5. Chor af Munkar [Choir of Monks]
6. Scen [Scene]
7. Final [Finale]

Akt II [Act II]
8. Introduktion och Aria [Introduction and Aria]
Introduktion [Introduction]: Andante F major 6/8
9. Duo [Duet]
10. Scen och Chör [Scene and Chorus]
11. Duo [Duet]
12. Qvartett [Quartet]
13. Final [Finale]

Akt III [Act III]
14. Förspel och Chör [Preludium and Chorus]
Förspel [Preludium]: Allegro moderato (ändrat till vivace) C minor 4/4 (C)
15. Scen [Scene]
16. Duo [Duet]
17. Qvartett [Quartet]
18. Cavatina
19. Duo [Duet]
20. Scen [Scene]
21. Final [Finale]

***
The action takes place in Provence, at the beginning of the 10th C.

Act I
A terrace outside Raimond’s palace.

Scene 1: Raimond, Isaura, Bertha, Hofmän, Tärnor, Trubaduren, Landtfolket [Raimond, Isaura, Bertha, Courtiers, Maids, The Troubadour, The Peasants]
Scene 2: De förre, En hofman [The above, A Courtier]
Scene 3: Isaura, Bertha
Scene 4: A signal is heard from the sea. De förre, Raimond, Hofmännen (väpnade), Folket (från båda sidor i fonden) [The above, Raimond, The Courtiers (armed), People (from both sides of the backdrop]
Scene 5: De förre, Abboten, Munkar [The above, The Abbot, Monks]
Scene 6: De förre [The above], Björn
Scene 7: The curtain falls to the sound of cups and cheers. De förre, Rolf, Björn, Barden, Vikingar [The above, Rolf, Björn, The Bard, Vikings]

Akt II [Act II]
A lush park with palms and Mediterranean treas. Nearing sunset.

Scene 1: Rolf
Scene 2: Den förre, Barden [The above (Rolf), The Bard]
Scene 3: Rolf (gömd), Isaura, Bertha, Tärnor [Rolf (hiding), Isaura, Bertha, Maids]
Scene 4: Isaura, Rolf
Scene 5: De förre, Björn och Astrid [The above, Björn and Astrid]
Scene 6: De förre, Raimond, Abboten, Hofmän, Tärnor, Bertha. Sedan Barden och Vikingarna [The above, Raimond, The Abbot, Courtiers, Maids, Bertha. Thereafter The Bard and The Vikings]

Akt III [Act III]
On the shore.

Scene 1: Vikingarne [The Vikings]
Scene 2: Rolf, Björn, (derpå) Astrid och Barden [Rolf, Björn, (then) Astrid and The Bard]
Scene 4: Astrid
Scene 5: Den förra, Isaura [The above (Astrid), Isaura]
Scene 6: Astrid dies. De förre, Rolf [The above, Rolf]
Scene 7: Rolf holds Astrid in his arms aboard his ship, which has been set ablaze. Björn throws himself on his sword. The curtain falls while the burning ship disappears. De förre, Raimond, Abboten, Hoffolk, Tärnor och Munkar (från höger), Björn, Barden och Vikingarne (från stranden) [The above, Raimond, The Abbot, Courtiers, Maids and Monks (from the right), Björn, The Bard and The Vikings (from the shore)]

[For the complete storyline (in Swedish), see the Swedish page of the same work.] Collapse

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Libretto/text