The Carnival in Rome
| Work data | |
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| Title: | The Carnival in Rome |
| Original title: | The Carneval in Rome |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Johann Strauss (son) |
| Libretto : | Joseph Braun and Richard Genée |
| Premiere: | March 1, 1873 |
| Place of premiere: | Theater an der Wien |
| Playing time: | 2.5 hours |
| Place and time of the action: | Rome |
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The Carnival in Rome (also Der Carneval in Rom ) is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss . The text is by Joseph Braun , the lyrics by Richard Genée . The first performance took place on March 1, 1873 at the Theater an der Wien , the first actress to play Marie was Caroline Charles-Hirsch .
The work was initially only a little known through an arrangement performed by the conductor Franz Marszalek in Dortmund in 1937 . Marszalek recorded his adaptation of this work in 1950 in a complete recording for the WDR Cologne (main role: Peter Anders ).
The successful modern re-performance took place on the basis of the New Johann Strauss Complete Edition Vienna at the Dresden State Operetta on October 29, 2004 in the production of Lutz Graf and under the musical direction of Ernst Theis .
orchestra
Two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, a harp, percussion and strings
action
place and time
The first act takes place in a Tyrolean mountain village, acts two and three in Rome in the 1860s.
first act
The young Marie looks sadly at a painting that the painter Arthur Bryk left her as a parting present. She had fallen in love with the painter while he was studying in the mountain village. One day two painters visit the village again. They are Robert Hesse and Benvenuto Rafaeli, two friends of their beloved Arthur, as it soon turns out. They tell Marie that he is currently working successfully in Rome. Immediately the plan matures in her to visit Arthur there. Because Benvenuto Rafaeli is interested in Arthur's picture, she sells it to him for 1,000 guilders in order to use the proceeds to finance the trip.
The Count's married couple, Falconi, are also currently in the Tyrolean village. Both are delighted when they discover the painters Hesse and Rafaeli, whom they appreciate so much, here. Because the countess is not averse to flirting and loves to make her husband jealous, she immediately tries to ensnare the two painters. Count Falconi is so enraged that he almost challenges one of the painters to a duel. However, his wife can avert this at the last second.
Second act
When Marie comes to Rome, there is a hilarious carnival going on there. Marie - disguised as a young man in Savoyard costume - mingles with the partying and looking for her lover. It doesn't take long before she discovers him. His two painter friends and the Falconi couple are with him. Marie is greeted happily by them and - as she hoped for - is not recognized by anyone. The flirtatious countess once again cannot help casting her nets at the opposite sex. This time it's the handsome boy from Savoy. Count Falconi now pulls the emergency brake: he takes his wife to a women's pen and hopes that the nonsense will be driven out of her there.
Marie as a boy from Savoy explains to Arthur that she or he wants to become a painter and would like to be his pupil. She was overjoyed to hear his approval.
While the carnival was going on, Arthur and the Countess got closer. Arthur would be all too happy to be with her at the women's abbey now, but his plan to break in there unobserved is doomed to failure. Marie has been watching him and is making a racket.
The Countess hated staying in the hated women's monastery. She has had enough of it now and wants to visit her beloved painter in his studio.
Third act
Marie - still disguised as a Savoyard youth - is alone in Arthur's studio when a visitor is announced. It is the countess who wishes to speak to the painter. Marie has taken a liking to her role and flirts with her very violently. As the two get closer, Arthur and the Count suddenly appear. Arthur now realizes what a flirtatious person is hiding behind the Countess and loses interest in her. Count Falconi roars again and challenges the Savoy to a duel. When Marie senses the opportunity to leave the studio unnoticed, she immediately puts her plan into action. Arthur discovers a drawing that Marie left behind in the studio. The picture shows the Savoyard youth as a Tyrolean peasant girl. Arthur now feels like scales: his longing for Marie is nourished. The two find each other and become a couple. Count Falconi realizes that he was jealous for no reason - probably not for the last time - and forgives his wife.
Musical numbers of the score
- No. 1 Introduction (to the 1st act): From the Tale d'runten the bell sounds so pure (Marie, Toni, Therese, Franz, choir)
- No. 2 Duettino: Painters like to hike (Rafaeli, Hesse)
- No. 3 Duet: I no longer tolerate this goings-on (Count, Countess)
- No. 4 Finale I: Yes in this hour (all)
- No. 5 Introduction (to Act 2) and Choir: World Famous Rome (Choir)
- No. 6 song: Come on people stand still (Marie, choir)
- No. 7 Song with choir: O see the pious pilgrim man - Von Josefs Mantel (Arthur, choir)
- No. 8 quintet: I'm going over to the house (Count, Countess, Arthur, Rafaeli, Hesse)
- No. 9 Duet: So you want to become an artist (Arthur, Marie)
- No. 10 Ensemble / insert Countess: Captive mourning (Countess)
- No. 11 choir: When the evening bells ring (choir)
- No. 11B Tarantella: I still don't know how to mix the colors (Marie)
- No. 12 Finale II: Champagne here, a whole sea (all)
- No. 13B song: I rejoice inside (Arthur)
- No. 14 Quartet: Most beautiful of all women (Marie, Countess, Arthur, Graf)
- No. 15 Duet: Of those ladies all (Marie, Arthur)
- No. 16 Finale III: Carnival We praise you (all)
Musical re-use
Based on motifs from this operetta, the composer's independent works were then created, which are marked in his catalog raisonné with the opus numbers 356 to 360. These are the following works:
- From the Danube Beach , Polka Fast, Opus 356
- Carnival Pictures , Waltz, Opus 357
- Take it , Polka francaise, Opus 358
- Greetings from Austria , Polka Mazurka, Opus 359
- Rotunda Quadrille , Opus 360
Recordings
In 1950, the WDR Cologne under Franz Marszalek produced a large cross-section with u. a. Peter Anders , Willy Hofmann , Richard Capellmann , Liselotte Losch , Willy Schneider and Ruth Zillger . This recording was also available on LP (RCA VL 30312).
The production of the Dresden State Operetta , which was based on the New Johann Strauss Complete Edition Vienna, was recorded for a CD that was released in 2011 on the CPO label . The choir and orchestra of the Dresden State Operetta sang and played under the direction of Ernst Theis. As soloists u. a. Isabella Ma-Zach, Michael Heim, Marcus Günzel, Bernd Könnes and Jessica Glatte with.