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Armida (Dvořák)

Armida is an opera by Antonín Dvořák in four acts, set to a libretto by Jaroslav Vrchlický that was originally based on Torquato Tasso's epic La Gerusalemme liberata. Dvořák's opera was first performed at Prague's National Theatre on 25 March 1904; the score was published as opus 115 in 1941.

Armida
Opera by Antonín Dvořák
The composer in 1882
LibrettistJaroslav Vrchlický
LanguageCzech
Based onTorquato Tasso's La Gerusalemme liberata
Premiere
25 March 1904 (1904-03-25)
National Theatre, Prague

In terms of genre, Armida represents the culmination of Dvořák's experimentation with a Wagnerian style of opera composition, though much of the music belongs to Dvořák's own genre. Vrchlický's libretto parallels the one that Philippe Quinault wrote for Jean-Baptiste Lully in their opera of the same name.[citation needed]

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, 25 March 1904
(Conductor: - )
King Hydraot of Damascus bass Emil Pollert
Armida, his daughter soprano Růžena Maturová
Ismen, a prince and magician baritone Bohumil Benoni
Petr, a hermit bass Václav Kliment
Bohumir, commander of the Franks baritone Václav Viktorin
Rinald, a crusader tenor Bohumil Pták
Dudo tenor Bedřich Bohuslav
Sven tenor Adolf Krössing
Roger tenor Hynek Švejda
Gernand bass Robert Polák
Ubald bass František Šír
A herald bass Otakar Chmel
Muezin baritone Jan Vildner
Siren soprano Marie Kubátová
A nymph soprano Vilemína Hájková
Choruses of Demons, Nymphs, Sirens, Sprites, Knights etc

Synopsis

 
Rinaldo in the garden of Armida, painting by Fragonard (Louvre)

In the Royal gardens of Damascus the call to prayer is heard. Ismen enters with news of the approaching Franks, but tries to dissuade the King from a confrontation: let him instead send his daughter (whose hand Ismen has been seeking) to sow dissention. She balks, but changes her mind when Ismen uses his magic to show her the enemy camp, recognizing Rinald as the knight she has just dreamed of.

Armida arrives in the crusader's camp and meets Rinald, who brings her into the council where she tells a story of a usurping uncle having blinded the king and chased her into the desert. Rinald cannot wait for the commander of an expedition to restore her kingdom to be chosen by lot and is caught leaving camp with her by the hermit Peter, but the lovers are aided in their escape by Ismen, driving a chariot pulled by dragons.

Rinald and Armida are entertained in her garden by sirens and fairies. Ismen is disguised as an old man and tries to destroy the palace, but finding his powers no match for Armida's sorcery, he goes to Rinald's companions and claims to be a convert. Glad of his help, they accept from him the Archangel Michael's diamond shield, which they use to bring Rinald out of the palace, which collapses as soon as Armida gives way to grief.

Rinald asks forgiveness for abandoning his comrades and his mission. As the crusaders advance on Damascus the battle passes through the camp and Rinald kills Ismen and faces a black knight, who drops his sword when he curses Armida's name. Only after stabbing her does he recognize her and baptise her as she dies in his arms.

References

  • Smaczny, Jan (2001). "Armida (VII)". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.
  • Vocal score prepared by Karel Šolc, introduction by Otakar Šourek, Orbis (Prague) 1941.

External links

  • Armida on a comprehensive Dvorak site

armida, dvořák, armida, opera, antonín, dvořák, four, acts, libretto, jaroslav, vrchlický, that, originally, based, torquato, tasso, epic, gerusalemme, liberata, dvořák, opera, first, performed, prague, national, theatre, march, 1904, score, published, opus, 1. Armida is an opera by Antonin Dvorak in four acts set to a libretto by Jaroslav Vrchlicky that was originally based on Torquato Tasso s epic La Gerusalemme liberata Dvorak s opera was first performed at Prague s National Theatre on 25 March 1904 the score was published as opus 115 in 1941 ArmidaOpera by Antonin DvorakThe composer in 1882LibrettistJaroslav VrchlickyLanguageCzechBased onTorquato Tasso s La Gerusalemme liberataPremiere25 March 1904 1904 03 25 National Theatre PragueIn terms of genre Armida represents the culmination of Dvorak s experimentation with a Wagnerian style of opera composition though much of the music belongs to Dvorak s own genre Vrchlicky s libretto parallels the one that Philippe Quinault wrote for Jean Baptiste Lully in their opera of the same name citation needed Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 3 References 4 External linksRoles EditRole Voice type Premiere Cast 25 March 1904 Conductor King Hydraot of Damascus bass Emil PollertArmida his daughter soprano Ruzena MaturovaIsmen a prince and magician baritone Bohumil BenoniPetr a hermit bass Vaclav KlimentBohumir commander of the Franks baritone Vaclav ViktorinRinald a crusader tenor Bohumil PtakDudo tenor Bedrich BohuslavSven tenor Adolf KrossingRoger tenor Hynek SvejdaGernand bass Robert PolakUbald bass Frantisek SirA herald bass Otakar ChmelMuezin baritone Jan VildnerSiren soprano Marie KubatovaA nymph soprano Vilemina HajkovaChoruses of Demons Nymphs Sirens Sprites Knights etcSynopsis Edit Rinaldo in the garden of Armida painting by Fragonard Louvre In the Royal gardens of Damascus the call to prayer is heard Ismen enters with news of the approaching Franks but tries to dissuade the King from a confrontation let him instead send his daughter whose hand Ismen has been seeking to sow dissention She balks but changes her mind when Ismen uses his magic to show her the enemy camp recognizing Rinald as the knight she has just dreamed of Armida arrives in the crusader s camp and meets Rinald who brings her into the council where she tells a story of a usurping uncle having blinded the king and chased her into the desert Rinald cannot wait for the commander of an expedition to restore her kingdom to be chosen by lot and is caught leaving camp with her by the hermit Peter but the lovers are aided in their escape by Ismen driving a chariot pulled by dragons Rinald and Armida are entertained in her garden by sirens and fairies Ismen is disguised as an old man and tries to destroy the palace but finding his powers no match for Armida s sorcery he goes to Rinald s companions and claims to be a convert Glad of his help they accept from him the Archangel Michael s diamond shield which they use to bring Rinald out of the palace which collapses as soon as Armida gives way to grief Rinald asks forgiveness for abandoning his comrades and his mission As the crusaders advance on Damascus the battle passes through the camp and Rinald kills Ismen and faces a black knight who drops his sword when he curses Armida s name Only after stabbing her does he recognize her and baptise her as she dies in his arms References EditSmaczny Jan 2001 Armida VII In Sadie Stanley Tyrrell John eds The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians 2nd ed London Macmillan ISBN 978 1 56159 239 5 Vocal score prepared by Karel Solc introduction by Otakar Sourek Orbis Prague 1941 External links EditArmida on a comprehensive Dvorak site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Armida Dvorak amp oldid 1056100553, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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