Fierrabras is a three-act opera written by the composer Franz Schubert in 1823, to a libretto by Josef Kupelwieser, the general manager of the Theater am Kärntnertor (Viennas Court Opera Theatre). Along with the earlier Alfonso und Estrella, composed in 1822, it marks Schuberts attempt to compose grand Romantic opera in German, departing from the Singspiel tradition. The Kärntnertor Theater in 1822 commissioned operas from Schubert and Carl Maria von Weber in a drive to increase the number of German operas in repertoire. Schubert fulfilled his commission with Fierrabras, von Weber his with Euryanthe. The Italian theatre director Domenico Barbaja, who had taken over the theatre in 1821, at the same time brought Rossini to Vienna to oversee production of several of his operas at the Kärntnertor Theater. Rossinis operas were so popular that Euryanthe unsuccessfully premiered in October 1823, resulting in the shelving of plans to stage Fierrabras, and the resignation of Josef Kupelwieser as director of the theater, complaining of arrogance on the part of Barbaja. As a result, Schubert never saw the opera staged, or even received payment for his work. This performance by the Prague Sinfonia, conducted by Christian Benda. youtu.be/Zf9oYnouxHQ?list=RDZf9oYnouxHQ
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 08:35:32 +0000