Drot og Marsk
Encyclopedia
Drot og marsk is an opera
by the Danish
composer Peter Heise. The libretto
, by Christian Richardt
, is based on Johannes Carsten Hauch
's play Marsk Stig (1850). The opera was first performed at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen
on September 25, 1878.
in 1286. The king is an inveterate womaniser and when he seduces Ingeborg, the wife of Marshal Stig
, the marshal organises a conspiracy to kill him. Stig is banished and Ingeborg commits suicide.
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 the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
composer Peter Heise. 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...
, by Christian Richardt
Christian Richardt
Christian Richardt was a Danish writer. He wrote the libretto for the opera Drot og marsk by Peter Heise.-Sources: The following sources were given:*Digte m.m. i * på Arkiv for dansk litteratur...
, is based on Johannes Carsten Hauch
Johannes Carsten Hauch
Johannes Carsten Hauch was a Danish poet.-Biography:Hauch was born of Danish parents residing at Frederikshald in Norway. In 1802 he lost his mother, and in 1803 returned with his father to Denmark. In 1807 he fought as a volunteer against the English invasion. He entered the university of...
's play Marsk Stig (1850). The opera was first performed at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
on September 25, 1878.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast |
|---|---|---|
| King Erik | 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... |
|
| Marshal Stig | ||
| Fru Ingeborg | ||
| Rane Johnsen | ||
| Count Jakob | ||
| Jens Grand | ||
| Arved Bengsten | ||
| Aase | ||
Synopsis
The opera is based on the true story of the murder of the Danish king Eric GlippingEric V of Denmark
Eric V "Klipping" was King of Denmark and son of Christopher I. Until 1264 he ruled under the auspices of his mother, the competent Queen Dowager Margaret Sambiria. Between 1261 and 1262, Eric was a prisoner in Holstein following a military defeat...
in 1286. The king is an inveterate womaniser and when he seduces Ingeborg, the wife of Marshal Stig
Stig Andersen Hvide
Stig Andersen Hvide was a Danish nobleman and magnate, known as the leading man among the outlaws after the murder of King Eric V of Denmark. In Danish tradition, he is known as Marsk Stig.-Biography:...
, the marshal organises a conspiracy to kill him. Stig is banished and Ingeborg commits suicide.
Recordings
- Drot og marsk Poul ElmingPoul ElmingPoul Elming is a Danish opera singer. He began his career as a baritone; making his professional debut in 1979 as a member of the Jutland Opera in Århus. He then pursued studies at the Juilliard School in New York City where his voice was re-trained in the tenor repertoire...
, Bent Norup, Eva JohanssonEva JohanssonEva Johansson is a Danish soprano opera singer.Born in Copenhagen and educated at Ingrid Jespersens School, Johansson studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and then the Copenhagen Opera Academy as well as privately with Oren Brown and Susanna Eken .She made her debut at the Danish Royal...
, Aage HauglandAage HauglandAage Haugland was a Danish operatic bass.- Life and career :He was born in Copenhagen and made his professional debut in Oslo in 1968. From 1970 to 1973 he was based in Bremen, and appeared at Den Jyske Opera in Aarhus in 1972...
, Danish National Radio Choir and Royal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Schønwaldt (Chandos)
Sources
- The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
- The Penguin Guide to Opera on Compact Discs (1993)