Der Trompeter von Säckingen

Der Trompeter von Säckingen (The Trumpeter of Säckingen) is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Viktor Nessler. The German libretto was by Rudolf Bunge [de], based on the epic poem, Der Trompeter von Säkkingen [sic], by Joseph Victor von Scheffel.

Der Trompeter von Säckingen
Opera by Viktor Nessler
The composer
TranslationThe Trumpeter of Säckingen
LibrettistRudolf Bunge [de]
LanguageGerman
Based onTrompeter von Säkkingen by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel
Premiere
4 May 1884 (1884-05-04)
Carola Stadttheater in Leipzig

Performance history

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Arthur Nikisch, to whom Nessler dedicated the opera,[1] conducted the first performance at the Carola-Theater [de] (or Stadttheater) in Leipzig on 4 May 1884. It was Nessler's greatest success, albeit in part because of the popularity of von Scheffel's poem. It was subsequently given at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on 23 November 1887, and at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London on 8 July 1892 by the Hamburg Stadttheater, conducted by Leo Feld.[citation needed]

Roles

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Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 4 May 1884
Conductor: Arthur Nikisch
Werner Kirchhofer, law student, later a trumpeter baritone Otto Schelper
Konradin, a trumpeter bass Karl Grengg
Baron von Schönau bass Karl Grengg
Maria, daughter of the Baron soprano Margarethe Jahns
Count von Wildenstein bass Karl Grengg
Countess Wildenstein, Maria's aunt, former wife of the Count contralto
Damian, son of the Count by a subsequent wife tenor George Marion
The majordomo baritone
The rector bass Karl Grengg

Synopsis

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Setting: 17th-century Heidelberg and Säkkingen, after the Thirty Years' War. The trumpeter Werner loves Maria, the daughter of the Baron, but her father and mother want her to marry the cowardly Damian. Werner proves himself a hero and is opportunely discovered to be of noble birth, so all ends happily.

Recordings

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Sources

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  1. ^ Score, p. 1, Schubert & Co, Leipzig 1884
  2. ^ "Der Trompeter von Säckingen" (Capriccio), Chandos Records, includes liner notes.
  • Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Der Trompeter von Säkkingen, 4 May 1884". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  • Franklin, Peter (1992), "Trompeter von Säckingen, Der" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
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