| Operas by Johann Strauss II |
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Indigo und die vierzig Räuber (1871) |
Der lustige Krieg (The Merry War) is the name of a three-act operetta composed by Johann Strauss II. The work was first performed on 25 November 1881 at the Theater an der Wien. Its libretto was by F Zell (Camillo Walzel) and Richard Genée. The operetta was well received at its premiere, and was performed 69 times during its first run.[1]
Contents |
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 25 November 1881 (Conductor: Johann Strauss II) |
|---|---|---|
| Violetta, Countess Lomelli, a widow | soprano | Caroline Finaly |
| Artemisia, Princess of Massa-Carrara | contralto | Rosa Streitmann |
| Else Groot | soprano | |
| Balthasar Groot, her husband, a tulip merchant from Holland | baritone | |
| Marchese Sebastiano | tenor | Alexander Girardi |
| Colonel Umberto Spinola | tenor | |
| Riccardo Durazzo | baritone | |
| Fortunato Franchetti | bass-baritone | |
| Biffi | tenor | |
| Pamfilio | baritone | |
| First lady | soprano | |
| Second lady | mezzo-soprano | |
| Third lady | contralto | |
| First commissioner | tenor | |
| Second commissioner | bass | |
| Colonel van Scheelen | spoken | |
| Officers and their wives, soldiers and people (chorus) | ||
The stage work is set in the first part of the 18th century in the garrisoned Mediterranean city of Massa.[1] It concerns a dispute between two states. The 'war' between them is played out as a game of love between Colonel Umberto Spinola, the commander-in-chief of the Genoese army, and the widowed Countess Violetta. Despite the name of the operetta, there is no fighting or bloodshed in the 'war'.
Johann Strauss: Der lustige Krieg, ORF Radio-Symphonie Orchester, Wiener Jeunesse-Chor, Wiener Motettenchor