Hunyadi László (Opera)

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Work data
Title: Hunyadi László
Original language: Hungarian
Music: Ferenc Erkel
Libretto : Béni Egressy
Literary source: The two Lászlós (Két László) from Lőrinc Tóth
Premiere: January 27, 1844
Place of premiere: pest
Playing time: approx. 2 ¾ hours
Place and time of the action: Belgrade , Temesvár and Buda between November 1456 and March 1457
people

Hunyadi László is a romantic opera by the Hungarian composer Ferenc Erkel, premiered in 1844, with a libretto by Béni Egressy .

Title of the opera

The opera is played almost exclusively in Hungary and at the State Hungarian Opera in Cluj- Napoca. Her title Hunyadi László puts the family name in front of the first name according to Hungarian usage and would correctly translate into German as László Hunyadi or Ladislaus Hunyadi .

action

The subject of the opera, which takes place in 1456/1457, is the rivalry between the Hungarian noble family of the Hunyadi and the sixteen-year-old King Ladislaus V (called Ladislaus Postumus , Hungarian V. László ) from the Habsburg dynasty.

first act

The supporters of the family of the recently deceased Hungarian administrator János Hunyadi are expecting Hungary's King Ladislaus V ( Ladislaus Postumus ) in Belgrade. They know about the intrigues of his governor and advisor Cilley against the Hunyadis and therefore do not want to be duped (chorus “Nem leszünk mi hű kutyái” - We will not be loyal dogs). The young Mátyás Hunyadi, only 13 years old, is already dreaming of heroism in battle (Cavatina “Csak az, mit fájlal a szívem” - only one thing hurts my heart). The king arrives and is honored by Mátyás' older brother László Hunyadi. After the king and his retinue have moved in, the Hungarian soldiers deny the ruler's German mercenaries entry into the castle (choir duet “Kik vagytok?” - Who are you?).

King Ladislaus is indignant and worried about his soldiers being locked out. Cilley sees the right moment to accuse the Hunyadis of a conspiracy against the king and demands a power of attorney from the sovereign (duet "Kizárni a király kíséretét?" - Lock out the king's entourage?). “Don't shed blood!” Shouts the king, but he gives his adviser the authority to arrest the Hunyadis - not knowing that Cilley actually wants to overthrow him and ascend the throne himself.

Meanwhile, László Hunyadi ponders his beloved bride Mária Gara (aria “Ó szállj hozzám” - Oh, fly to me). The arrival of his friend Rozgonyi pulls him out of his daydreams: Cilley had given him a letter in which he promised the Serbian despot Branković the head of the two young Hunyadis. László and his supporters are indignant. Cilley soon appears and hypocritically asks László to a royal banquet. The young nobleman confronts the governor with his letter. The dispute escalates, Cilley attacks the unarmed László and is killed by his supporters. The arriving king is appalled, but makes a pretense of promising the Hunyadis forgiveness for killing Cilley. The supporters of the Hunyadis celebrate the death of the intriguer (chorus “Meghalt a cselszövő” - the intriguer is dead).

Second act

The ladies-in-waiting of Erzsébet Szilágyi, the mother of the two Hunyadis, eagerly await the arrival of the king in the family castle in Temesvar (choir "Nyári est" - summer evening). The young Mátyás is also very excited (Arioso “Jó így egyes-egyedül” - It's good to be all alone). But the widowed mother is plagued by worries and gloomy premonitions (aria "Mint a tenger" - Like the sea). In a vision, Erzsébet sees the execution of her son and collapses.

The king moves in and graciously promises not to take revenge on the Hunyadis for Cilley's death. At the meeting, however, László's bride Mária is also present, whose charm immediately casts a spell over the king. Her father, the palatine Miklós Gara, notices the ruler's glances and now sees its time to get rid of the hated future son-in-law, to overthrow the “weakling” of the king and to take over power himself (aria “Az égen csillagom” - My Star in the sky).

Erzsébet is overjoyed to be reunited with her two sons (trio “Ím újra nálam vagytok” - see, you are with me again). But when the king summons the young Hunyadis, she is seized with fear again. When they return, their worries turn into a desperate desire for hope (“La-Grange” -Arie “Ó, mi vadul” / “Szép reménysugár” - Oh, how wild / Beautiful ray of hope). Meanwhile, László and Mária are overjoyed to see each other again and dream of their upcoming wedding (duet “Mily boldogság” - What happiness).

In the castle chapel, the king solemnly swears that he will not harm the Hunyadis.

Third act

King Ladislaus is tormented in his castle in Buda by worries and above all by his insatiable desire for Mária Gara (aria "Én bábja vad kezeknek" / "Ég kincse" - I, puppet of wild hands / treasure of heaven). Palatine Gara comes and tells of a conspiracy of the Hunyadis against the king: they wanted to kill him at the wedding party of László, he says. When he promises the sovereign the hand of his daughter, the latter is only too happy to believe the allegations against the bridegroom of the woman he loves.

László and Mária celebrate their wedding (“Szép dalra zendülj” choir - sing a beautiful song). The bride is overjoyed to soon be in the arms of her lover ( Cabaletta “Ah, szememben mámor s öröm ragyog” - Oh, intoxication and joy shine in my eyes). During the wedding dance (ballet "Palotás") Gara storms in and takes László prisoner.

The young aristocrat is now in prison (intermezzo music) and ponders his fate (aria "Miért is botlottam ily csapdába én?" - Why did I fall into such a trap?). Suddenly the cell door opens and Mária enters. She wants to persuade László to flee with her, but he wants justice. His bride reveals that he has just been sentenced to death. Gara arrives, upset to see his daughter in László's arms again. The two lovers say goodbye to each other (duet "Áldjon meg Isten" - God bless you).

László is led to the scaffold (funeral march). Erzsébet pleads again for mercy for her son, but she is not heard. Finally she lays down her petitions before God (Preghiera “Ó ég és föld irgalmas Istene” - Oh, merciful God of heaven and earth). László shouts to the people on the scaffold that he is innocent. The executioner strikes three times, but fails to behead the young man. Erzsébet and her son are already hoping for the king's mercy, but the latter waves to the hangman - and László's head falls in the dust.

Stylistic position

music

Hunyadi László is next to Bánk bán Erkels most famous opera and the first masterpiece of the Hungarian national opera. For this purpose, the composer drew his music primarily from the fund of " verbunkos " ( commercial music ), a type of military music that was then considered "typically Hungarian" and known internationally from Brahms' "Hungarian dances". The influence of Italian opera, especially Rossini and the young Verdi, can also be clearly seen .

history

Additions by Erkel

Although Hunyadi László was premiered in 1844, Erkel added new pieces to the work over the course of time, around 1845 with the overture, which took up musical motifs from the entire opera, in 1847 with the Cabaletta of Mária with its virtuoso coloratura and above all 1850 with the dramatic and extremely difficult second aria by Erzsébet in honor of the then celebrated soprano Anne de la Grange (“La Grange Arie”). That year, dance music known today as Palotás was also added to the wedding scene.

The makeover from 1935

In 1935, Kálmán Nádasdy and Gusztáv Oláh, together with the composer Miklós Radnai, undertook an extensive revision of the opera. Above all, this resulted in a completely new version of the text that modernized Béni Egressy's libretto and brought the rhythm of music and the Hungarian language better into harmony. This also went hand in hand with some scenic reworking. This revised version is the one that is usually listed. It was not until 2012 that the Hungarian State Opera brought out a production (also released on CD) that deliberately uses the original version.

literature

Web links