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''Alfred'' ( B. 16) is a heroic
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
in three acts by the Czech composer
Antonín Dvořák Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( ; ; 8September 18411May 1904) was a Czech composer. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia, following the Romantic-era nationalist example of his predec ...
. It was Dvořák's first opera and the only one he composed to a German text. The
libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...
, by Carl Theodor Körner, was set by Friedrich von Flotow (as ''Alfred der Große''), based on the story of the English king
Alfred the Great Alfred the Great ( ; – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who both died when Alfr ...
. Composed in 1870, ''Alfred'' was not performed during Dvořák's lifetime. The opera premiered (in Czech translation) at the City Theatre,
Olomouc Olomouc (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 103,000 inhabitants, making it the Statutory city (Czech Republic), sixth largest city in the country. It is the administrative centre of the Olomouc Region. Located on the Morava (rive ...
on 10 December 1938. The opera was performed for the first time with the original German libretto on 17 September 2014, in Prague. The overture ( ''Tragic Overture'') is well known and often performed separately.


Roles


Synopsis

The plot of ''Alfred'' takes place during a war between the English and Danes in the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
. The story follows the hero, Alfred, on his quest to rescue his love Alvina from the Danish leader Harald and lead the English to victory. The opera lasts about 140 minutes. Act 1 – The Camp of the Danes: The opera opens in the Danish camp as they prepare to celebrate a victory over the English. Gothron sits apart from the crowd and is disturbed because the night before he dreamt that King Alfred wore a crown of victory. Harald arrives at camp, escorting British captives that include Alfred's fiancé Alvina. Harald attempts to woo Alvina, but she refuses his advances, preferring to be kept prisoner with the other captives. Act 2 – A Wilderness in the Forest: King Alfred is present and learns from Sieward that his army was overtaken and Alvina captured by the Danes. Alfred plans to sneak into the Danish camp disguised as a harp player. Alfred hears Alvina singing from the tower where she is imprisoned and promises he will rescue her soon. Gothron's men surprise Alfred, and drag the supposed harpist into camp. Alvina escapes and arrives at the Danish camp as Alfred reveals his true identity. The two flee together as Gothron remembers his earlier dream. Act 3 – A Rocky Glen in the Forest: Alvina comes across a group of British soldiers and informs them that Alfred is alive and well. She convinces them to join their king, but she is captured once more by Harald and his men. Harald again tries to convince Alvina to fall in love with him, but she refuses. Alfred charges into the camp with his army and the aide of the noble Dorset. Alfred's army is victorious, and Harald commits suicide instead of facing defeat. Alfred and Alvina are happily reunited, and the opera closes with the people rejoicing for their king and country.


Background

Dvořák was working as a violist at the Prague Provisional Theatre when he began writing ''Alfred''. He had yet to establish himself as an opera composer and had no access to a librettist. He used an existing 1811 libretto by the German poet Karl Theodor Koerner. How Dvořák came across the libretto is unclear. Josef Zubaty claims that Dvořák came across the text "in an old Almanach". Scholars such as Michael Beckerman theorize that the allure of a free and already notated libretto was attractive to Dvořák. Librettos written in Czech were few. Scholars note that with this first work, Dvořák was flexing the composing characteristics that would later define his work. He turned the original two act form into three acts. The opera is flavored by the influence of
Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
. Dvořák did not promote ''Alfred'' possibly because of its German text at a time of intense nationalism by the Czech people. Dvořák did not feel confident in the score, as suggested by Clapham and Smaczny while others suggest the libretto was better suited for the German
Singspiel A Singspiel (; plural: ; ) is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk- ...
. Dvořák did not include Alfred in his list of compositions, and except for possibly showing the opera to his friend and conductor Smetana, no one saw the score during Dvořák's lifetime. He allowed his second opera, '' King and Charcoal Burner,'' to pass as his first. However, the romantic scene between Vanda and Solvaj in his later opera ''
Vanda ''Vanda'', abbreviated in the horticultural trade as ''V.,'' is a genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. There are 90 species, and the genus is commonly cultivated for the marketplace. This genus and its allies are considered to be among the ...
'' is the same duet sung by Harald and Alvina at the end of Act 1 of ''Alfred'', transposed to a different key.


Musical influences

John Clapman states that as ''Alfred'' was Dvořák's first opera, the influence of several already well established composers is apparent throughout the score, especially
Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
. Several critics, such as Jarmila Gabrijelova, pointed to Wagnerian concepts in several of Dvořák's early works; the orchestration of ''Alfred'' contains many
leitmotif A leitmotif or () is a "short, recurring musical phrase" associated with a particular person, place, or idea. It is closely related to the musical concepts of ''idée fixe'' or ''motto-theme''. The spelling ''leitmotif'' is a partial angliciz ...
s, and frequent use of Wagnerian harmony and chromaticism. The influence of Czech folk songs is apparent in the ballet of the Danes as they celebrate their initial victory. The style of Italian opera composer
Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for List of compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma ...
is heard in full chorus scenes. One theme within the opera's overture references the works of composer
Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...
. One prelude in Act 2 uses Smetana's fondness of switching between the dominant seventh and the tonic. ''Alfred'' does leave room for improvement. Dvořák followed Körner's libretto closely, which resulted in several disjointed passages, a lack of action, and hit-or-miss characterizations.


Performances

Dvořák planned for a performance of the overture from ''Alfred'' in May 1881 under the title ''Tragic Overture'', but the piece was replaced by his third ''Slavonic Rhapsody''. A radio broadcast of excerpts from the opera aired in Prague on 6 February 1938 in the original German text. The premiere stage performance of ''Alfred'' was at the Czech Theatre in Olomouc, with a Czech translation, on 10 December 1938, nearly thirty five years after Dvořák's death. A performance of the full opera in the original German text was performed on 17 September 2014 during Dvořák's Prague festival.


References


Further reading

* Holden, Amanda (ed.), ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001.


External links

*
Comprehensive overview of the opera
on antonin-dvorak.cz {{DEFAULTSORT:Alfred (Dvorak) Operas by Antonín Dvořák German-language operas Operas 1870 operas Cultural depictions of Alfred the Great Operas set in England