König Manfred

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A scene from act III (1868 journal illustration)
Carl Reinecke (1860s)

King Manfred (König Manfred), Op. 93 is a grand romantic opera in 5 acts by Carl Reinecke to libretto by Friedrich Roeber [de]. It was composed in 1866 and staged in 1867.[1][2]

History[edit]

The music was composed from April to December 1866 in Leipzig, where Reinecke was already director of the Gewandhaus concerts and professor at the Leipzig Conservatory. The first performance took place at the Royal Court Theater of Wiesbaden on 26 July 1867 with Wilhelm Jahn as conductor. Although it was a huge success, the opera remained in repertoire only for a while (a printed libretto appeared as late as in 1881). The Overture and the Prelude to Act V were among Reinecke's most favorite compositions.

The full score of the opera was published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1868, as well as the vocal score, prepared by composer himself. Several popular excerpts were published in different arrangements.

Roles[edit]

Role[3] Voice type[3] Cast at the premiere
Charles of Anjou —
King Manfred tenor
Helen, his spouse soprano
Octavianus, legate and cardinal bass
Fulco Apulian and Sicilian barons,
banished by Manfred 		tenor I
Ruffo tenor II
Borello baritone
Fasanella baritone
Annibaldi bass
Ghismonda, a nun soprano
Eckart baritone
A page mezzo-soprano
Chorus: fishermen, male and female Saracens, banished people

Synopsis[edit]

The opera deals with Manfred, 13th-century King of Sicily (1232-1266), against whom was half Europe: eventually he fell in battle against Charles I of Anjou. The action takes place in 1266 in Naples and Benevento.

List of musical numbers[edit]

The following list is based on the Breitkopf & Härtel 1868 vocal score.

  • Overture
Act I
  • No. 1. Chor
  • No. 2.
  • No. 3. Arie mit Chor
  • No. 4. Sextett mit Chor
  • No. 5. Recitativ und Arie
  • No. 6. Recitativ
  • No. 7. Lied mit Chor
  • No. 8. Recitativ und Terzett
  • No. 9. Finale
Act II
  • No. 10.
  • No. 11. Duett
  • No. 12. Solo mit Chor
  • No. 13.
  • No. 14. Duett
  • No. 15. Lied
  • No. 16. Scene und Duett
Act III
  • No. 17. Chor
  • No. 18. Recitativ und Terzett
  • No. 19. Chor und Ballett
  • No. 20. Finale
Act IV
  • No. 21. Entr'act
  • No. 22. Duett mit Ballett
  • No. 23. Recitativ und Duett
  • No. 24. Duett
  • No. 25. Recitativ und Arie
  • No. 26. Recitativ
  • No. 27. Arie
  • No. 28. Finale
Act V
  • No. 29. Vorspiel
  • No. 30. Recitativ
  • No. 31. Romanze
  • No. 32. Recitativ und Arie
  • No. 33. Recitativ und Scene
  • No. 34. Recitativ und Chor
  • No. 35. Recitativ
  • No. 36. Arioso und Schlusschor

Recordings[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Preface by Christoph Schlüren, 2003 — Final paragraph by Bradford Robinson, 2007
  2. ^ Klaus Tischendorf. Booklet notes to Marco Polo 8.223117 / Naxos 8.555397
  3. ^ a b Based on 19th-century German libretto

External links[edit]

  • König Manfred, Op. 93: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  • 19th-century German libretto
  • An anonymous review of the first performance in: The Athenaeum. British Periodicals Limited. 1867. p. 187. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
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