Manru

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Manru [ˈmanɾuː] is an Opera (lyrical drama) in three acts, music by Ignacy Jan Paderewski composed to the libretto by Alfred Nossig (English translation by H. E. Krehbiel), based on novel A Hut Behind the Village (1843) by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski.

Received its first performance (world premiere) in Dresden May 29, 1901 (sung in German, Ernst von Schuch conducting), followed by the Polish premiere in Lwow on June 8, 1901, and Teatr Wielki, Warsaw on May 24, 1902.

American premiere (sung in English) took place on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House on February 14, 1902, with debut of Alexander von Bandrowski in title role, Walter Damrosch conducting (good friend of the composer). Opera received initially enthusiastic reception, premiere being marked as "one of high distinction." Nevertheless, predominantly due of badly written libretto, it received only 9 performances in the season 1901/1902 (from that 4 performances were staged in New York City) and was never revived there since.

Manru remains to this day the only Polish opera ever presented at The Metropolitan Opera.

[edit] References

  • "Opera Guide" by Jozef Kanski, PWM 1978

[edit] External links

[edit] Available recordings

  • DUX 0368/0369, Lower Silesian Opera House, Wroclaw (2001), World premiere recording of "Manru"
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