Der lustige Krieg

Der lustige Krieg (The Merry War) is 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]

Roles

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)

Synopsis

Place: The garrisoned Mediterranean city of Massa.[1]
Time: First part of the 18th century

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'.

Recordings

Johann Strauss: Der lustige Krieg, ORF Radio-Symphonie Orchester, Wiener Jeunesse-Chor, Wiener Motettenchor

References

Notes
Sources
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