Rosamunde

Rosamunde is a " Great romantic drama " in four acts by Helmina of Chezy, with choirs, accompanied by music and dancing. The world premiere of the stage with music by Franz Schubert ( D 797 ) was held at the Theater an der Wien on 20 December 1823. The original text of the play was long considered lost, but was rediscovered in a Stuttgart archive and published in 1996.

For the performance on Isartortheater in Munich in 1824 Philipp Jakob Röth wrote the incidental music.

Action

Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus is determined to compete with eighteen years the rule, before she was brought up by the skipper 's widow Axa incognito as a shepherdess. The governor used as long as Fulgentius (Revised: Fulvio ), which already has Rosamunde's parents on his conscience, however, tries to thwart her reign, first by intrigues, then through a marriage proposal, and finally by a poison assassination. Rosamunde that is legitimized by a certificate from the hand of her father, enjoys broad support of Cypriots and Cretan Prince Alfons, the its intended groom. Finally, all the attacks of Fulgentius ( Fulvio ) be frustrated, and he dies by his own poison. But Rosamunde ascends the throne.

The incidental music

To play music of this work include the overture and 10 musical numbers, their original order is not certain, revised with Chézy text version is not readily be combined authentic. The approach chosen for the world premiere of the opera overture was those not listed in his lifetime Schubert's Alfonso und Estrella D 732 (1822 ). However, the overture to the melodrama The Magic Harp D 644 (1820) later became known in connection with Rosamunde. It is unclear whether Schubert himself made ​​this decision.

Media

• Rosamunde, complete recording, with Elly Ameling, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Conductor: Kurt Masur, Philips Classics in 1985.
• Total recording with Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo- soprano, Ernst Senff Choir, The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, conducted by Claudio Abbado, German Grammophon 1991.

Editions

• Rosamunde, drama in five acts by Helmina of Chezy. Music by Franz Schubert. First publication of the revised version. Edited with an afterword and unknown sources. Till Gerrit Waidelich, Tutzing 1996
• A fragmentary autograph draft of the first version of Chézy play " Rosamunde ", in: Schubert through the glasses. International Franz Schubert Institute, messages 18, Tutzing 1997, pp. 46-57
• Music Edition in preparation New Schubert Edition