|
| |
|
Title |
|
Czaar und Zimmermann
(Or: Die zwei Peter) |
| Composer |
|
Albert Lortzing (1801 - 1851) |
| Librettist |
|
Albert Lortzing after Le
Bourgmestre de Sardam, or Les Deux Pierres, a play by A.H.J. Mélesville,
J.T. Merle and E.C. de Boirie. |
| Genre |
|
Comic opera (three acts) |
|
First performance |
|
Municipal Theatre, Leipzig, 22nd December, 1837. |
| Time of
action |
|
In
the summer of 1697 at Zaandam (Netherlands) |
| Place of action |
|
- A shipyard
- An inn
- Town hall
|
| Main parts |
|
Czar Peter the Great |
baritone |
| |
|
Peter Iwanov |
tenor |
| |
|
Van Bet, burgomaster |
comic bass |
| |
|
Marie |
soprano |
| |
|
Admiral Lefort |
bas |
| |
|
Lord Syndham |
bas |
| |
|
Marquis of Châteauneuf |
tenor |
| |
|
Widow Bruin |
contralto |
|
Prominence of chorus |
|
Considerable. |
|
Orchestra |
|
2 flutes, 2
oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4
French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombone, kettle-drums,
percussion, strings. |
|
Special demands |
|
Only a large orchestra will do justice to this
work. |
|
Full
score and orchestral parts |
|
Available. |
|
Level |
|
The choruses are not difficult. Soloists' parts
are a different matter. |
|
Length |
|
About 2½ hours. Three acts. |
| Music |
|
Full operatic splendour. Magnificent choruses, a
lovely sextet, amusing duets, a stirring carpenters' song, the burgomaster's
renowned buffo-aria ("O sancta justitia..."), Châteauneuf's lyrical song
("Lebe wohl, mein flandrisches mädchen..."), it is all musically highly
attractive. Other highlights: the rehearsal scene, in which the citizens try
to master the subtleties of a cantata composed by the burgomaster, with
varying success, and of course the ever popular clog-dance. |
| Story |
|
Czar Peter the Great has taken up residence at
Zaandam, Holland, under an assumed name, in order to learn the craft of
shipbuilding. Another Russion has found employment at the same yard, Peter
Iwanov, a deserter. Soon the rumour of the Czar's presence reaches the
burgomaster, who decides to pay ceremonial homage to the exalted personage.
However, he mistakes the deserter for the Czar, which results in a number of
complications. In the end the Czar returns to Russia, and Iwanov escapes
punishment: instead, he is united with his beloved Marie, the burgomaster's
niece and ward. |
|
Costumes |
|
Regional period dress for the
chorus. Late 17th century constume for soloists. No dress-changes. |
|
