Der Trompeter von Säkkingen

Der Trompeter von Säkkingen (The Trumpeter of Säkkingen) is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Viktor Nessler. The German libretto was by Rudolf Bunge, based on the epic poem, Der Trompeter von Säckingen [sic], by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel.

Performance history

The opera was first performed under Arthur Nikisch at the Carola Theater (or Stadttheater) in Leipzig, on 4 May 1884. It was Nessler's greatest success, albeit in part because of the popularity of von Scheffel's work. It was subsequently given at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on 23 November 1887, and at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 8 July 1892.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, May 4, 1884 (Conductor: Arthur Nikisch)
Werner Kirchhofer, law student, later a trumpeter	tenor	Otto Schelper
Konradin, a trumpeter	bass	Karl Grengg
Baron von Schönau	bass
Maria, daughter of the Baron	soprano
Count von Wildenstein	bass
Countess Wildenstein, Maria's aunt, former wife of the Count	contralto
Damian, son of the Count by a subsequent wife	tenor	Marion
The majordomo	baritone
The rector	bass

Synopsis

Setting: 17th-century Heidelberg and Säkkingen, after the Thirty Years War. The trumpeter Werner loves Maria, the daughter of the Baron, but her father and mother want her to marry the cowardly Damian. Werner proves himself a hero and is opportunely discovered to be of noble birth, so all ends happily.

Recordings

Nessler: Der Trompeter von Säkkingen - Cologne Radio Orchestra and Chorus

• Conductor: Helmuth Froschauer
• Principal singers: Alfred Kuhn (Bass); Christoph Späth (Tenor); Franz Hawlata (Bass); Hermann Prey (Baritone); Katharina Kammerloher (Mezzo soprano)
• Recording date: 1994
• Label: Capriccio - CAP60055 (CD)

Sources

• Amadeus Almanac
• Franklin, Peter (1992), 'Trompeter von Säkkingen, Der' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7

External links

• Der Trompeter von Säkkingen website
• Synopsis at Bob's Universe