Æneas i Carthago

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Opera dates
Title: Aeneas in Carthage
Original title: Æneas i Carthago
Title page of the libretto, Stockholm 1799

Title page of the libretto, Stockholm 1799

Shape: “Lyrisk tragedie” in a prologue and five acts
Original language: Swedish
Music: Joseph Martin Kraus
Libretto : Johan Henrik Kellgren
Literary source: Jean-Jacques Lefranc de Pompignan : Didon
Premiere: November 18, 1799
Place of premiere: Royal Theater, Stockholm
Playing time: approx. 3½, 4½ or 6 hours
Place and time of the action: Carthage , after the end of the Trojan War
people

prolog

action

  • Æneas, Trojan commander (tenor)
  • Dido , Queen of Carthage (soprano)
  • Jarbas , Numidian King (tenor)
  • Agates (tenor)
  • Narbal (bass)
  • Clelie, Dido's confidante (soprano)
  • Barcé, Dido's confidante (soprano)
  • Siché's shadow, Dido's murdered husband (bass)
  • supreme priest of Carthage (tenor)
  • Jupiter (bass)
  • Juno (soprano)
  • Venus (soprano)
  • Iris , Jupiter's messenger (soprano)
  • Era, the honor (soprano)
  • Trojans, Carthaginians, Juno priests, hunters, Numidians (chorus)
  • Gods of love, amusements, Roman soldiers, Roman people (ballet)

Æneas i Carthago or Dido och Æneas (German title: Aeneas in Carthago ) is an opera (original name: "Lyrisk tragedie") in a prologue and five acts (VB 23) by Joseph Martin Kraus (music) with a libretto by Johan Henrik Kellgren based on a design by Gustav III. based on the tragedy Didon (1734) by Jean-Jacques Lefranc de Pompignan . The premiere took place on November 18, 1799 at the Royal Theater in Stockholm

action

prehistory

After Troy was destroyed by the Greeks, Æneas and a few other Trojans managed to escape. Your fleet is on its way to Italy, as Æneas was predicted to found the city of Rome there. However, he has a powerful enemy in the goddess Juno , who, according to the judgment of Paris, swore vengeance on the Trojans.

prolog

A big cliff in the sea.

Stage design by Louis Jean Desprez , Stockholm 1799

Scene 1. The wind god Eol keeps the weather captive so that they cannot disturb the royal festival (choir of weather: “Få vi ej än vår frihet förbida?”).

Scene 2. The vengeful goddess Juno orders Eol to let storms sink the Trojan fleet (Arie Juno: "Låt dina stormars vreda" - Arie Eol: "Gån vilda Orcaner").

Scene 3. Eol releases the winds to carry out the task (choir of the weather: “Se stormen oss bebåda”). The Trojans visible under the rock on the ships are desperate (Trojans chorus: “Må höjd och afgrund skalla”).

Scene 4. The sea god Neptune rises from the sea and drives away the storms. At his command, gentle zephyr winds bring the fleet safely to the coast (Aria Neptun: “I som trot [t] sig er förhäfven mot min vilja”).

Scene 5. Æneas thanks Heaven for saving him. While the other Trojans stay on the ships, he and his companion Achates go ashore.

Scene 6. Æneas calls his mother, the goddess Venus , for help (Aria Æneas: "Citherens mägtiga gudinna").

Scene 7. Venus promises her son a good reception with the Carthaginian Queen Dido . At the same time, she warns him of Juno's hatred.

first act

In front of the Juno temple

Scene 1. On the occasion of the inauguration of the new temple, countless suitors are expected for Dido's hand. However, Dido informs her friends Clelie and Barcé that she has fallen in love with Æneas, who has just arrived (Arie Dido: “Nej, jag ej älskar, jag förtäres”).

Scene 2. The Carthaginian people arrive singing and dancing and praise the queen (Clelie / Carthaginian choir: “Lef milda drottning, glad och”). When Barcé reports on the Trojan refugees lying on the beach, Dido lets them into town.

Scene 3. Æneas and the Trojans arrive and swear allegiance to Dido (Chor Æneas, Trojan: “Ehvar som himlen hälst behagar”). Dido invites you to take part in the festival (Aria Dido: “Då lycklig är af edra”). Priests bring offerings and the statue of the goddess, and the Carthaginians begin the ceremony (Carthaginians choir: “Chartagienser låt vår sång, lyckliga hjertan” - Priestesses choir: “Alsmägeiga gudinna” - Æneas / Carthaginian choir: “O Juno, gudars mor, låt tvädierter ”).

Scene 4. Æneas also wants to offer a sacrifice of thanks to the goddess (Aria Æneas: “O Juno, du hvars blick från himlens”). But at this moment a cloud covers the entrance to the temple - Juno rejects his gift.

Second act

A grove dedicated to Diana; in the background a mountain with watercourses; a statue of Diana on the side

Scene 1. Before the Carthaginians and Trojans go on a hunting trip together, Dido thinks about her feelings for Æneas (Dido arias: “Ack, för hvad plågor detta bröst sig till ett” - “Uti min själ jag catches sluter”).

Scene 2. Æneas and the rest of the company arrive. Everyone is looking forward to the upcoming hunt (choirs: “Må denna dag” - “Lekande nöjen, muntra behag” - “Jägarens gud, lät valdhornets ljud” - “Börjom vårt lopp”).

A lonely grotto in the middle of the forest

Scene 3. During a storm, Dido and neas find shelter in a cave. On this occasion Æneas reveals his love to the queen (Aria Dido: “Med er förenad in i döden”). Then the shadow of Dido's first husband Siché appears and frightens the two with gloomy warnings (duet Dido / Æneas: “Hvad creepy syn”).

Scene 4. Gods of love or Carthaginian virgins drive away the couple's worries (chorus: “Kärleks gudar, blinda nöjen”).

[Missing in the printed libretto] The goddesses Venus and Juno argue about the future of Æneas' (duet Venus, Juno: “Vet, vet, hunt Olympens spira bär”).

Third act

The great square of Carthage, surrounded by magnificent palaces, with a street leading to Dido's palace

Scene 1. Æneas vacillates between his love for Dido and his duty to appease the goddess Juno (Aria Æneas: “Förgäfves, kärlek mig beredda”).

Scene 2. On behalf of Dido, Clelie Æneas asks for support against the Numidians, whose king Jarbas wants to force marriage with Dido (Arie Clelie: “Du som i nödens ögonblick dess ädla bistånd fått”).

Reception hall in Dido's palace with the queen's throne

Scene 3. Jarbas arrives disguised as an ambassador with a large entourage and solicits Dido's hand (Aria Jarbas and Numidians choir: "Gå drottning tag af Jarbas händer"). Dido firmly rejects him (Aria Dido: “Gå, säg din kung, att Dido drottning”) and announces that she will marry Æneas on the same day.

Scene 4. Jarbas furiously swears revenge for this humiliation (Aria Jarbas: "O gudars gud").

A rose grove with a marble altar dedicated to Hymen and Cupid

Scene 5. Surrounded by hymen priestesses and Carthaginian girls dressed in white and crowned with flowers , Dido and Æneas prepare for their wedding (duet Dido / Æneas: “Ack hvad de lågor ljufligt brinna”; choirs “Må ert förbund hos gudar bifall vinna "-" Höjom upp vår röst, att prisa och berömma "-" Sen, kärleksfacklan till en tid "; duet:" O du, som från Olympens slott "). Suddenly the earth shakes, there is lightning and thunder, and the temple sinks into the ground. All flee in horror (Choir Dido / Æneas / Karthager: "Hvad dån! Hvad grymma lågors"). Dido faints.

Scene 6. Aran, the allegory of honor, appears in heaven and admonishes Æneas to leave Carthage and travel to Italy to found Rome according to the prophecy. Æneas decides to obey the divine command (Aria Æneas: "Men du, hvars throne jag gick att dela").

Scene 7. When Dido wakes up, she is alone. Disappointed by Ænea's behavior, she swears vengeance (Aria Dido: "Om du så brottslig kunde bli").

Fourth act

The port of Carthage with the Trojan ship prepared for departure

Scene 1. Achates and the other Trojans prepare a sacrifice in order to vote Neptune in a favorable mood for the upcoming journey (Trojans chorus: “Böljan utan vrede svallar”). Æneas is desperate to have to leave his lover (aria and chorus Æneas / Trojan: “Gudar, som mig förelagt”).

Scene 2. When Æneas is about to get on board, Dido rushes over to find out the reasons for his departure. He tries in vain to explain his situation to her (duet Dido / Æneas: “Gå, trottsa faror, storm och haf”). She leaves disappointed. Æneas wants to follow her, but is held back by Achates.

Scene 3. The Trojans are now ready to leave (Trojans chorus: “Lyftom ankar, seglom af”). At that moment there is a warlike noise and Clelie comes running over.

Scene 4. Clelie begs the Trojans for help against the attacking troops of Jarbas (Chor Clelie / Æneas / Trojan: “Gå, samlom då vår tappra här”). The Trojans cannot refuse that. You rush off the ship.

Fifth act

The city of Carthage; in the background high towers and the city wall; behind the temples and palaces

Scene 1. The Numidians who have invaded the city fight with the Carthaginian defenders (Choir of the Numidians: “Vår styrka segra bör”). One of the Carthaginian soldiers is wounded by an arrow. Jarbas cheers on his people (Jarbas / choirs: “Må blodet dessa murar färga”). Numidian soldiers pursue the fleeing women.

Scene 2. The Trojans arrive. Æneas succeeds in killing Jarbas in a duel (duet and chorus Æneas / Jarbas / Numider: "Mägtiga gudar, styren min poor"). Everyone celebrates his victory (march and choir: “Tappre hjelte, du hvars hand frälst vår”).

Scene 3. Once again Æneas has to break away from his love for Dido in order to get on board the ship with the Trojans (Aria Æneas: “Gudar, i som styren, som styren menskors lopp”).

Garden in front of Dido's palace; in the background the royal gardens, behind them the sea; a pyre on one side

Scene 4. Barcé fears for the queen, on whose orders the pyre was set up.

Scene 5. Dido worries about the outcome of the battle and about Æneas' life (Aria Dido: "O Juno, du som öfvergifvit"), until the cheering crowd brings the news of victory (chorus: "All vår fara har försvunnit") .

Scene 6. Narbal presents the captured Numidians and the weapons of their leader Jarbas to the queen. Dido's joy is dampened when she discovers that Æneas has already left. Desperate, she stabs a dagger into her chest, grabs a torch and throws herself into the pyre (Aria Dido and Choir of the Carthaginians: "Förrädare! Barbar! Du flyr, och lämnar").

Scene 7. The goddess Iris , a messenger of Jupiter , floats in on a cloud to calm the people. She announces that Dido was raised to Olympus and from there will protect Carthage (Choir of the Carthaginians: “Vår drottning hör Olympen till”).

Mount Olympus

Scene 8. Jupiter and the other gods receive Dido.

layout

The first bars of the overture to the prologue

The overwhelming variety of scenes, stage spectacles and dances in Kraus' opera served the purpose of showing the audience the technical possibilities of the new opera house, at the opening of which it was originally intended to be performed.

The arias and ensemble movements are often kept short. They follow the "ideal of simplicity". The many choral movements and dances as well as the well-composed scenes, the musical numbers of which are linked by carefully designed Accompagnato movements, refer to the genre of French tragédie lyrique . The reform operas by Christoph Willibald Gluck were an important role model for Kraus . He received further inspiration during his trip to Europe. Niccolò Piccini's opera Didon, which Kraus met in Paris in 1784, proved of particular importance . Influences of the German Sturm und Drang can also be felt. In anticipation of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner , he already used progressive leitmotifs . The focus of the text is less on the external action described in Virgil , but rather concentrates on the psychological aspects of the people and situations.

orchestra

The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:

Music numbers

The opera contains the following musical numbers in the autograph manuscript (the numbers in Bertil van Boer's catalog raisonné in square brackets ; the texts there also differ slightly): The scene information corresponds to the printed libretto, in which the texts of some numbers are missing.

  • Overture: Andante con moto brusco, C minor, 4/4 (C)

prolog

  • No. 1. Choir (Eol, weather gods): "Få vi ej än vår frihet förbida?" (Scene 1)
  • No. 2. Recitative (Eol, Juno): "Hvad ljufva toners sammanljud" (scene 1)
  • No. 3. Aria (Juno): "Låt dina stormars vreda" (scene 2)
  • No. 4. Recitative (Eol): "Gudinna, dina bud jag vörda vill" (scene 2)
  • No. 5. Aria and choir (Eol, weather gods): "Gån vilda Orcaner" (scene 2)
  • No. 6. Choir with ballet (Weather Gods): "Låt oss vår frihet förbida"
  • No. 7. Choir (weather gods): "Se stormen oss bebåda" (scene 3)
    • Choir (Trojans / Sailors): "Må höjd och afgrund skalla" (scene 3)
  • No. 8. Recitative (Neptune): "Hvad dån?" (Scene 4)
  • No. 9. Aria (Neptune): "I som trot [t] sig er förhäfven mot min vilja" (scene 4)
  • No. 10. Ballet of the Zephires (instrumental): Allegretto, D major, 6/8
  • No. 11. Dance of the naiads and tritons (instrumental): Molto moderato, D major, 3/4
  • No. 12. Recitative (Æneas): "Oss himlen räddat har, bevekt af våra böner" (scene 5)
  • No. 13. Aria (Æneas): "Citherens mägtiga gudinna" (scene 6)
  • No. 14. Recitative (Venus): “Din bön är hörd, min son. Listen opp ifrån den grymma "(scene 7)

first act

  • Overture: Andante sostenuto - Andante maestoso, E flat major, 4/4 (C)
  • No. 1. Recitative (Dido, Clelie, Barcé): "Bland alla nöjens krets, på sjelfva segrens" (scene 1)
  • No. 2. Recitative (Clelie, Dido): "Om han sin fordna ro i Edra tårar fann" (scene 1)
  • No. 3. Aria (Dido): "Nej, jag ej älskar, jag förtäres" (scene 1)
  • No. 4. Recitative (Dido): “Ack! Troy är ej mer "(scene 1)
    • No. 4a. March (instrumental): [without tempo designation], E major, alla breve
  • No. 5. Choir (Clelie, Karthager): "Lef milda drottning, glad och" (scene 2)
    • No. 5a. Gavotte (instrumental): Allegretto ma un poco moderato, C major, alle breve
  • No. 6. Recitative (a Carthaginian): “Ett folk af stormens våld på våra stränder” (scene 2)
  • No. 7. Choir (Æneas, Trojan): "Ehvar som himlen hälst behagar" (scene 3)
  • No. 8. Recitative and aria (Dido): “Gläds Trojas värda son. Ur faran frälst ni funnit "-" Då lycklig är af edra "(scene 3)
  • No. 9. Recitative (Dido): "Men skingra nu det qval, som edra hjertan" (scene 3)
  • No. 10. Choir (Carthaginians): “Chartagienser låt vår sång, lyckliga hjertan” (scene 3)
  • No. 11. Choir (priests, priestesses): "Alsmägeiga gudinna" (scene 3)
  • No. 12. Choir (Æneas, Carthaginians): "O Juno, gudars mor, låt tvädierter" (scene 3)
  • No. 13. Recitative (Clelie): "Vår drottning, till Dianas lof, idag en jagt förräta" (scene 3)
  • No. 14. Aria (Æneas): "O Juno, du hvars blick från himlens" (scene 4)
  • No. 15. Recitative (Æneas): "Förgäfves var min bön" (scene 4)
  • [No. 14a. Final sentence (Æneas) in the first edition of van Boer]

Second act

  • No. 1. Aria (Dido): "Ack, för hvad plågor detta bröst sig till ett"
  • No. 2. Recitative (Dido): "Än för Æneas ej min kärlek yppat sig" (scene 1)
  • No. 3. Aria (Dido): "Uti min själ jag fåfangs sluter"
  • No. 4. Recitative (Dido, Æneas): "Ren bergens återskall till Jägerhornes dån" (scene 1)
  • No. 5. Choir (Dido, Æneas, Karthager): "Må denna dag" (scene 2)
  • No. 6. Choir (Dido, Æneas, Karthager): "Lekande nöjen, muntra behag" (scene 2)
  • No. 7. Choir (Dido, Æneas, Karthager): "Jägarens gud, lät valdhornets ljud" (scene 2)
  • Ballet movement No. 1 [8]. Hunting exercises: Adagio, G major, 3/4
  • Ballet movement No. 2 [9]. Race: Con leggerezza, G major, 3/8
  • Ballet movement No. 3 [10]. Air, rings: Maestoso, D major, 3/4
  • Ballet movement No. 4 [11]. Archery: Allegretto, A major, alla breve
  • No. 8 [12]. Choir (Dido, Karthager): "Börjom vårt lopp" (scene 2)
  • No. 9 [13]. Recitative (Juno): "Æneas för min hämnd, af Neptun räddning fådt"
  • No. 10 [14]. Aria (Juno): "Om han Italy's kuster hinner"
  • No. 11 [15]. Recitative (Juno): "Men ser att min befallning göra, jag luftens nympher"
  • No. 12 [16]. Interlude "Sturm" (instrumental): Allegro, D major, 4/4 (C)
  • No. 13 [17]. Recitative (Dido, Æneas): "Ni här, min drottning, för er ser en grotta, som sitt hvalf" (scene 3)
  • No. 14 [18]. Aria (Æneas): "Ack vet att från den första dag"
  • No. 15 [19]. Recitative (Dido): "Jag kan ej dölja mer den låga" (scene 3)
  • No. 16 [20]. Aria (Dido): "Med er förenad in i döden" (scene 3)
  • No. 17 [21]. Recitative (Siché): “Olyckliga! skall så din "(scene 3)
  • No. 18 [22]. Duet (Dido, Æneas): "Hvad creepy syn" (scene 3)
  • No. 19 [23]. Choir (love gods [or Carthaginian virgins]): "Kärleks gudar, blinda nöjen" (scene 4)
  • No. 20 [24]. Recitative (Dido, Æneas): "Af outslackligt hat ej gudars hjertan brinna" (scene 4)
  • No. 21 [25]. Choir (love gods [or Carthaginian virgins]): "Kärleks gudar, blinda nöjen"
  • No. 22 [26]. Recitative (Venus, Juno): "Hvad otacksamma barn, som i er lydnad felat!"
  • No. 23 [27]. Duet (Venus, Juno): "Vet, vet, hunt Olympens spira bear"
  • [Ballet in handwritten material: Andante - Vivace in E major - E minor - E major, 2/4 - 3/4]

Third act

  • No. 1. Aria (Æneas): "Förgäfves, kärlek mig beredda" (scene 1)
  • No. 2. Recitative (Æneas, Clelie): "Ej qval och fruktan skänkt" (scene 2)
  • No. 3. Aria (Clelie): "You som i nödens ögonblick dess ädla bistånd fått" (scene 2)
  • No. 4. Recitative (Æneas): “Bereda hennes död! Hvem jag så nedrig "(scene 2)
    • No. 4a. March of the Numidians (instrumental): Allegro maestoso, G major, 4/4 (C)
  • No. 5. Appearance of Jarbas (instrumental): Tempo giusto, C major 2/4
  • No. 6. Recitative (Jarbas): "Princessa, för er thron" (scene 3)
  • No. 7. Aria (Jarbas): "Gå drottning tag af Jarbas händer" (scene 3)
  • No. 8. Choir (Numider): "Gå drottning tag av Jarbas händer" (scene 3)
  • No. 9. Recitative (Dido, Jarbas): “Då jag mitt fosterland” (scene 3)
    • No. 9a. Aria (Dido): "Gå, säg din kung, att Dido drottning" (scene 3)
    • No. 9b. Recitative (Jarbas): "Föraktas, jag föraktas" (scene 4)
  • No. 10. Aria (Jarbas): "O gudars gud" (scene 4)
  • No. 11. Ballet (instrumental): Larghetto, D major, alla breve
  • No. 12. Duet (Dido, Æneas): "Ack hvad de lågor ljufligt brinna" (scene 5)
  • No. 13. Choir (Dido, Æneas, Karthager): "Må ert förbund hos gudar bifall vinna" (scene 5)
    • No. 13½ [13a]. Dance of the Carthaginian Girls (instrumental): Andante, C major, 2/4
  • No. 14. Choir (Karthager): "Höjom upp vår röst, att prisa och berömma" (scene 5)
  • No. 15. Recitative (Æneas): “Man nalkas, listen upp. De helga prästers "(scene 5)
  • No. 16. March of the Priests (instrumental): Moderato, G major, alla breve
  • No. 17. Choir (highest priest, priest): "Sen [Som], kärleksfacklan till en tid" (scene 5)
  • No. 18. Duet (Dido, Æneas): "O du, som från Olympens slott" (scene 5)
  • No. 19. Choir (Dido, Æneas, Karthager): “Hvad dån! Hvad grymma lågors "(Scene 5)
  • No. 20. Recitative (Äran, Æneas): "Æneas, har du glömt" (scene 6)
  • No. 21. Aria (Æneas): "Men du, hvars thron jag gick att dela"
  • No. 22. Recitative (Dido): “Hvar är jag? Gudar! "(Scene 7)
  • No. 23. Aria (Dido): "Om du så brottslig kunde bli" (scene 7)

Fourth act

  • No. 1. Choir (Trojan): "Böljan utan vrede svallar" (scene 1)
  • No. 2. Aria and chorus (Æneas, Trojan): "Gudar, som mig förelagt" (scene 1)
  • No. 3. Recitative (Achates, Æneas, Dido): "Ni folkets längan hör" (scene 1)
  • No. 4. Duet (Dido, Æneas): "Gå, trottsa faror, storm och haf"
  • No. 5. Recitative (Achates, Æneas, Venus): "Trojanerne, min prins" (scene 3)
  • No. 6. Aria (Venus): "Till evig visshet af ditt hopp"
  • No. 7. Choir (Roman soldiers): "Augustus, Augustus, att din ara"
  • No. 8. March (Roman soldiers; instrumental): Tempo di marcia, D major, alla breve
  • No. 9. March (Roman; instrumental): [without tempo marking], D major 4/4 (C)
  • No. 10. Choir (Romans): "You like that genom segrar vunnit"
  • No. 11. Recitative (Venus): “Nog af! Du finna bör hvad råd dig ägnar "
  • No. 12. Choir (Trojan): "Lyftom ankar, seglom af" (scene 3)
  • No. 13. Recitative (Æneas): “Mitt folk, mitt kära folk!” (Scene 3)
  • No. 14. Recitative (Clelie, Æneas): “Ack prins! Ett grufligt bud "(scene 4)
  • No. 15. Choir (Clelie, Æneas, Trojan): "Gå, samlom då vår tappra här" (scene 4)

Fifth act

  • No. 1. Prelude [instrumental]: [without tempo designation], D major, 4/4 (C)
  • [No. 2]. Choir (Numider): "Vår styrka segra bör" (scene 1)
  • [No. 3]. Choir (Jarbas, Numider and Carthaginians): "Må blodet dessa murar färga" (scene 1)
  • No. 2 [4]. Duet and choir (Æneas, Jarbas, Numider): "Mägtiga gudar, styren min arm" (scene 2)
  • No. 3 [5]. March of the Trojans [Tempo di marcia D major alla breve], chorus and recitative (Æneas, Trojan): "Tappre hjelte, du hvars hand frälst vår" (scene 2)
  • No. 4 [6]. Recitative (Æneas): "O gudar, styrken mig" (scene 3)
  • [No. 7]. Aria (Æneas): "Gudar, i som styren, som styren menskors lopp" (scene 3)
  • No. 5. [8]. Recitative (Barcé): "Dess välja värkställd är" (scene 4)
  • No. 6. [9]. Aria (Dido): "O Juno, du som öfvergifvit" (scene 5)
  • No. 7. [10]. Recitative (Dido): "Men gudar, kan Ert hjerta lida" (scene 5)
  • No. 8. [11]. Choir and scene (Dido, Narbal, Karthager): "All vår fara har försvunnit" (scene 5)
  • [No. 11a]. Recitative (Narbal): “Drottning gläds! Din throne, din era "(scene 6)
  • [No. 11b]. March of the Carthaginians (instrumental): [without tempo designation], C major, 4/4 (C)
  • [No. 11c]. Ballet (instrumental): Adagio, F major 4/4 (C)
  • No. 9. [12]. Recitative (Dido): “Hvad fröjd! Hvad oförmodad lycka "(scene 6)
    • No. 9a. Ballet (instrumental): Allegro brilliant, D major, 6/8
  • No. 10. [13]. Recitative, aria and chorus (Dido, Karthager): “Heaven Ack! Han flyr! Han lämnar mig ”-“ Förrädare! Barbarian! du flyr, och lämnar "(scene 6)
  • [No. 14]. Recitative (Iris): "Förskräckta folk" (scene 7)
  • [No. 15]. Choir (Karthager): "Vår drottning hör Olympen till" (scene 7)
  • [No. 16, previously 15]. Ballet and recitative (Jupiter): "Kom, Dido, kom att din belöning" (scene 8)
  • [No. 17, previously 16]. Choir (gods and goddesses): "Ljusets magter af Er lag, styres" (scene 8)
    • [No. 17a]. Ballet (instrumental): Adagio in B flat major 3/4
  • [No. 18]. Ballet (instrumental). Minuet 1 and 2: Andante grazioso, D major 3/4
    • [previously No. 17]. [without tempo designation], D major, 3/4
  • [No. 19, previously 18]. Ballet. Ciaconna [instrumental]: Andante, D major, 3/4 [No. 18 in van Boer's first edition]
  • No. 11. (Choir, Iris): “Ack! Sorg och fasa, se lågan rasa "-" Förskräckta folk "-" Vår Drottning hear Olympen til "(scene 6)

Appendix in the version of 1782

  • Ballet (instrumental): Andante un poco largo, D major, 3/4

Work history

Æneas i Carthago is considered to be the “main musical theatrical work” by the German-Swedish composer Joseph Martin Kraus . Johan Henrik Kellgren wrote the libretto . It is based on a design by the Swedish King Gustav III. based on Jean-Jacques Lefranc de Pompignan 's tragedy Didon of 1734. The work is first mentioned in a letter from the composer dated August 26, 1781. It was originally intended to be played for the opening of the Stockholm Opera House in 1782, but was played shortly before the Replaced performance by Johann Gottlieb Naumann's Cora och Alonzo after the first female singer, Caroline Müller , fled Stockholm to escape her creditors. At the beginning of 1782, the prologue, the overture and the first two acts were only completed. On October 7th, Kraus began a multi-year educational trip through Europe, during which he continued to work on the work. In the next few years there were several failed performance efforts, for which intrigues at court were also to blame. The final scene in which Jupiter introduces Dido to Olympus was added late by Kraus. In 1796 Kellgren published the libretto in his Samlade skrifter.

The opera was premiered posthumously on November 18, 1799 in the Royal Theater Stockholm on the occasion of the baptism of the Swedish Crown Prince Gustav . A heavily abbreviated version was played which, with a total duration of three hours, only contained about half of the music. In addition, Friedrich Haeffner had partially re-orchestrated the music. The production required more than 200 contributors, including at least 80 singers and 61 dancers. The soloists are Gertrud Elisabeth Forselius (Juno), Francisca Stading (Venus), Carl Stenborg (Æneas), Carolina Müller (Dido), Christoffer Christian Karsten (Jarbas), Herr Lindskog (Achates), Fru Deland (Clelie), M: lle Frodell (Barcé), Mr Åman (Narbal), Mr Folling (Siché's shadow), Mr Crælius (priest), M: lle Åberg (Äran) and M: lle Vandonl (Iris). The choreography came from Federico Nadi Terrade. There were a total of seven performances by October 1800.

Between 1805 and 1807 there were two more French-language concert performances with piano accompaniment by Sigismund von Neukomm in Petersburg. Only the overture was played at concerts for a long time.

In 1966 the third act was played in the Drottningholm Palace Theater . Newell Jenkins conducted an abridged version in Stockholm in 1979 in a semi-staged production, of which the Swedish radio made a recording. Jenkins also performed the work on March 26, 1980 at Alice Tully Hall in New York.

The first performance of the complete original version did not take place until 2006 at the Stuttgart Opera . The production came from Peter Konwitschny with illness-related support from Michaela Dicu and Michael von zur Mühlen and a stage design by Hans Joachim Schlieker. Lothar Zagrosek was the musical director . Martina Serafin sang Dido. The production was voted “Rediscovery of the Year” in Opernwelt magazine's 2005/2006 critics survey .

There was a shortened staged production in the Konzerthaus Berlin in 2011 . The production was done by Susanne Øglænd, the set by Mascha Mazur, the costumes by Gunna Meyer and the videos by Matze Görig. Lothar Zagrosek conducted the Konzerthaus Orchestra and the RIAS Chamber Choir . The singers were Simone Schneider (Dido), Dominik Wortig (Æneas), Daniel Ohlmann (Jarbas), Daniel Kirch (Neptun), Catriona Smith (Venus), Cornelia Horak (Juno), Olivia Vermeulen (Bercé and Iris) and Joachim Goltz ( Eol, Siché and Narbal).

The manuscript remained in the library of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm. In 1988 Bertil van Boer published the score in his complete edition of the works of Joseph Martin Kraus. A revised version appeared in 1998.

Recordings

literature

  • Alan Swanson: Kellgren's libretto for “Aeneas i Carthago”. In: Scandinavian Studies. Vol. 72, No. 4, University of Illinois Press, Winter 2000, pp. 379-410 ( JSTOR 40920254 ).
  • Jens Dufner: "Æeneas i Carthago" by Joseph Martin Kraus - opera as a reflection of the Swedish court culture. Peter Lang, Frankfurt am Main 2015, ISBN 978-3-653-99229-8 .

Web links

Commons : Aeneas i Carthago  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ↑ In the handwritten material of the Royal Theater here follows a repetition of choir No. 19.
  2. ↑ a b The notes are crossed out in pencil in the handwritten material of the Royal Theater.
  3. ↑ In the manuscript of the Royal Theater, the number also contains a march in D major.
  4. ↑ a b According to van Boer, the music may have come from Federico Nadi Terrade.
  5. ↑ In van Boer's first edition before No. 14 and summarized with this.
  6. ↑ a b Missing from the handwritten material of the Royal Theater.
  7. ^ According to Piper's Encyclopedia of Music Theater , the occasion was the celebration of the birthday of the Swedish Crown Prince Gustav Adolf. Gustav IV Adolf (born November 1, 1778) was no longer Crown Prince in 1799, but already King of Sweden. His son Gustav , who was born on November 9, 1799 , did not have the middle name Adolf. The title page of the libretto clearly refers to the baptism of the Crown Prince ("Kron-Prinsens Döpelse").

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Gabriela Krombach: Aeneas i Carthago. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater . Volume 3: Works. Henze - Massine. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1989, ISBN 3-492-02413-0 , pp. 325–327.
  2. ↑ a b c d Newell Jenkins: Aeneas i Carthago (Dido och Aeneas). In: Amanda Holden (Ed.): The Viking Opera Guide. Viking, London / New York 1993, ISBN 0-670-81292-7 , pp. 539-540.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f Bertil van Boer :  Aeneas i Cartago [Aeneas i Cartago, eller Dido och Aeneas ('Aeneas in Carthage, or Dido and Aeneas')]. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
  4. ↑ a b c d Æneas [Aeneas] i Carthago (Dido och Æneas). Work information (Swedish) from Levande Musikarv, accessed on February 9, 2019.
  5. ↑ a b Rediscovery of the year - "The heavenly lives in its tones". In: Opernwelt yearbook 2006.
  6. ↑ a b Volker Hagedorn: Ingenious unlucky fellow. Review of the performance in Stuttgart 2006. In: Die Zeit , July 6, 2006, accessed on February 11, 2019.
  7. ^ A b c Alan Swanson: Kellgren's Libretto for "Aeneas i Carthago". In: Scandinavian Studies. Vol. 72, No. 4, University of Illinois Press, Winter 2000, pp. 379-410 ( JSTOR 40920254 ).
  8. ↑ Information in the printed libretto.
  9. ↑ Peter P. Pachl : The "Swedish Mozart" - an intensive experience: Joseph Martin Kraus' "Aeneas in Carthage" in the Konzerthaus Berlin. In: Neue Musikzeitung , March 19, 2011, accessed on February 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ Aeneas in Carthage by Kraus, Stockholm 1979 on premiereopera.net, accessed on February 6, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Aeneas i Carthago" by Joseph Martin Kraus in Stuttgart in Tamino Classical Forum, accessed on February 6 of 2019.
  12. ^ Joseph Martin Kraus. In: Andreas Ommer: Directory of all complete opera recordings (= Zeno.org . Volume 20). Directmedia, Berlin 2005, p. 7953.
  13. ^ Corrections made after the SWR radio broadcast on July 30, 2006.
  14. ^ Richard Wigmore: Kraus, JM Aeneas in Carthage orchestral highlights. CD review. In: Gramophone , 7/2010, accessed on February 9, 2019.