''The Princess of Cyprus'' (in Swedish: ), Op. 9, is an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

in four acts written from 1931 to 1936 by the Swedish composer Lars-Erik Larsson; the Swedish-language libretto is by Finnish author and playwright

Zacharias Topelius Zachris Topelius (, ; 14 January 181812 March 1898) was a Finnish author, poet, journalist, historian, and rector of the University of Helsinki who wrote novels related to Finnish history. Given name Zacharias is his baptismal name, and this ...

. The opera premiered in Stockholm on in 29 April 1937, but was withdrawn subsequently by the composer.

Background

The libretto by

is based on elements of the Finnish national epic

Kalevala The ''Kalevala'' ( fi, Kalevala, ) is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology, telling an epic story about the Creation of the Earth, describing the controversies and ...

. Topelius combined part of the 11th song concerning Lemminkäinen's attempts to win the proud virgin Kyllikki with other elements from the Kalevala, including Lemminkäinen's visit to

Tuonela Tuonela (; )Oinas, Felix J., and Juha Pentikäinen. "Tuonela." In ''Encyclopedia of Religion'', 2nd ed., edited by Lindsay Jones, 9396-9397. Vol. 14. Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. ''Gale eBooks'' (accessed January 3, 2021)/ref> i ...

. There are parallels to the Iliad and Odyssey, and Topelius uses the conflict of cultures between the noble Greeks and the barbaric Nordic countries. Larsson wrote ''Prinsessan av Cypern'', from 1931 to 1936. While inspired by past composers, the music is often unmistakably by Larsson. The shepherd's revenge song is inspired by rune singing, and Anemotis's view of Hellas has exotic contours. Larsson gives each character a leitmotif, worked into dramatic storytelling.Programme booklet to the 2008 Malmö Opera production.

Fredrik Pacius Fredrik Pacius (; born Friedrich Pacius; 19 March 1809 – 8 January 1891) was a German-Finnish composer and conductor who lived most of his life in Finland. He has been called the "Father of Finnish music". Pacius was born in Hamburg. He was ap ...

used Topelius's story for his fairy-tale singspiel '' Prinsessan av Cypern'' (Helsinki, 28 November 1860).

Performance history

''Prinsessan av Cypern'' was premiered at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm on 29 April 1937 with

Hjördis Schymberg Hjördis Gunborg Schymberg (April 24, 1909 – September 8, 2008) was a Swedish coloratura and lyric soprano active on the opera stage and in concert halls between 1934 and 1968. One of the leading singers of the Royal Swedish Opera, she was aw ...

and

Set Svanholm Set Svanholm (2 September 1904 – 4 October 1964) was a Swedish operatic tenor, considered the leading Tristan and Siegfried of the first decade following World War II. Life and career Svanholm began his musical career at the age of 17 as a pr ...

in leading roles, and the orchestra and chorus conducted by Herbert Sandberg, costumes by Jon-And and choreography by Julian Algo. This production was given a single performance in Göteborg on 11 May 1937, and closed in Stockholm later in the year.

Kurt Atterberg Kurt Magnus Atterberg (, 12 December 188715 February 1974) was a Swedish composer and engineer. He is best known for his symphonies, operas, and ballets. Biography Atterberg was born in Gothenburg. His father was Anders Johan Atterberg, enginee ...

criticized the programming of a new work so late in the season.

Malmö Opera Malmö Opera ( Swedish: ''Malmö opera'') is an opera house in Malmö, Sweden. An opera company of the same name presents seasons of opera in this house. Built 1933-1944 by architect Sigurd Lewerentz and, until 1992, known as the Malmö City Th ...

mounted four performances of a semi-staged production premiered on 23 August 2008. The production was broadcast on Swedish Radio on 25 October 2008. The conductor Joakim Unander devised a short orchestral suite ''Tre Bilder'' (''Three pictures'') for a concert broadcast during the composer's centenary.Swedish Radio: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2482&artikel=2452815

Synopsis

Act 1

''Aphrodite's grove at the Cyprus coast''
The proud princess Chryseis attracts the attention of the adventurer Lemminkäinen, who has just come to Cyprus with his brother in arms Tiera. When Lemminkäinen makes overtures towards Chryseis the nobleman Medon seeks to imprison him. King Chysandros shows mercy to Lemminkäinen, but warns Chryseis about Lemminkäinen's arrogance. During a feast, Lemminkäinen abducts Chryseis while Tiera takes one of the bridesmaids, Anemotis. Medon takes up pursuit and vows to never lose sight of Chryseis.

Act 2

''Tableau 1: Helka's cabin at Kauko in Finland''
Mother Helka awaits the return of Lemminkäinen while his sister Ainikki is waiting for Tiera whom she loves. The friends return, each with a happy bride, who adopt new names in the northern country. Chryseis becomes Kyllikki and Anemotis becomes Tullikki.
''Tableau 2: At Lemminkäinen's castle''
Medon tracks them down, and after a struggle the princess says she loves Lemminkäinen, who sings ecstatically of transforming the hut into a castle.

Act 3

''The Castle Lemminkäinen''
After the long winter, Lemminkäinen moans to his slave - who finds that his master needs changing. Chryseis comforts Ainikki that life will be easier in the spring. Lemminkäinen and Kyllikki quarrel but are reconciled and promise to love each other: he will not go fighting, so she should not dance. Medon's ship has been frozen in the ice, but he now prepares his return journey south. He and Anemotis join and plan to persuade Chryseis come back with them on the ship. Tiera and a slave call Lemminkäinen to battle in a neighboring village, and when he learns that Kyllikki has gone to the ship, breaking her promises he throws himself into the fighting after giving Helka his magical hair brush, which will bleed the day he dies.

Act 4

''Tableau 1: A bay in

Pohja Pohja (; sv, Pojo) is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated with Ekenäs and Karis to form the new town of Raseborg in 2009. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Uusimaa region. The municipality ...

, in the far north''
Medon's ship has drifted on a foggy and desolate coastline; Chryseis bemoans her fate. Medon follows her and gets Anemotis to keep watch. Lemminkäinen emerges from the mist complaining that he had been betrayed, Chryseis accuses him of betraying her.
''Tableau 2: In the mountains''
The slave has discovered an old shepherd who wants revenge on Lemminkäinen, and with the help of the treacherous slave he kills Lemminkäinen, but then falls victim to a blow from the slave.
Tiera and Helka and the bleeding brush come to search for Lemminkäinen, and kills the slave. Tiera evokes an underworld god who says that Lemminkäinen may only be saved from death by true love.
''Tableau 3: In the realm of Tuonela''
Helka descends to hell and releases her son with a song.
''Tableau 4: In the mountains''
Medon and Anemotis find Chryseis and return to Cyprus and the grove of Aphrodite.

References

{{portal bar, Opera, Classical music, Music Compositions by Lars-Erik Larsson Swedish-language operas Operas 1936 operas Operas set in Finland Operas set in Cyprus Operas based on the Kalevala