Gunlöd (opera) on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
''Gunlöd'' is an
opera
Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
in three acts by composer
Peter Cornelius
Carl August Peter Cornelius (24 December 1824 – 26 October 1874) was a German composer, writer about music, poet and translator.
Life
He was born in Mainz to Carl Joseph Gerhard (1793–1843) and Friederike (1789–1867) Cornelius, actors in ...
.
Cornelius also authored the work's
libretto
A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...
which is based on the story of ''
Hávamál
''Hávamál'' ( ; Old Norse: ''Hávamál'',Unnormalised spelling in the Codex Regius:''Title'': hava mal''Final stanza'': Nv ero Hava mál q''ve''ðin Háva hꜹ''l''lo i ..classical pron. , Modern Icelandic pron. , ‘Words of Hávi he H ...
'' in the version found in the ''Edda'', a literary work from Medieval Iceland">Edda">he H ...
'' in the version found in the ''Edda'', a literary work from Medieval Iceland which details Old Norse legends.
The opera's story and psychology has some striking similarities to Richard Wagner's ''Ring Cycle''; with the opera ''Lohengrin (opera), Lohengrin'' being a clear influence.
Roles
*Odin (tenor)
*Suttung (bass)
*Gunnlöd (mezzo-soprano)
*Hela (contralto)
Plot
Odin
Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...
, the god of light, transforms himself into a worm in order to sneak into the giant
Suttung's castle to steal the
Mead of Poetry
In Norse mythology, the Poetic Mead or Mead of Poetry, also known as Mead of Suttungr, is a mythical beverage that whoever "drinks becomes a skald or scholar" able to recite any information and solve any question. This myth was reported by Snorri ...
; a powerful drink which grants unlimited knowledge and insight. Suttung's daughter,
Gunnlöd, warns him of Odin's presence and he according hides his golden goblet that is filled with the special mead. Odin seduces Gunnlöd, and she gives him the mead after he wins her heart. He flees. Suttung and Gunnlöd tragically die as punishment for losing the Mead of Poetry.
History
Peter Cornelius began composing ''Gunlöd'' in 1866, and continued to labor on it until his death eight years later in 1874. It was unfinished with none of the opera orchestrated, but with the piano score of the entire first act and the majority of the second act finished. Of the third act music, Cornelius had only composed the piano score for the wedding songs sung by the character Suttung. The composer
Karl Hoffbauer completed the opera, and it is this version which was published in 1879.
The Belgian-Danish composer
Eduard Lassen
Eduard Lassen (13 April 183015 January 1904) was a Belgian- Danish composer and conductor. Although of Danish birth, he spent most of his career working as the music director at the court in Weimar. A moderately prolific composer, Lassen produ ...
re-orchestrated the opera for its world premiere production
which took place at the
Hoftheater Weimar on May 6, 1891.
Three years later Max Hasse re-worked a new vocal score from Cornelius's original manuscript. He later asked
Waldemar von Baußnern
Waldemar Edler von Baußnern (also ''Baussnern'' or ''Bausznern''; 29 November 1866 – 20 August 1931) was a German composer and music teacher.
Life
Born in Berlin, and descended from Transylvanian Saxons, Baußnern was the son of a financia ...
to help him complete his version with Baußnern contributing new orchestral arrangements to Hasse's vocal score. This version of the opera was given its premiere on 15 December 1906 at the
Cologne Opera
The Cologne Opera (German language, German: Oper der Stadt Köln or Oper Köln) refers to both the main opera house in Cologne, Germany and its resident opera company.
History of the company
From the mid 18th century, opera was performed in the ...
.
Hasse and Baußnern's version of the opera was performed in a concert version at the
Staatstheater Mainz
The Staatstheater Mainz (Mainz State Theatre) is a theatre in Mainz, Germany, which is owned and operated by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Situated on the Gutenbergplatz, the complex comprises two theatres which are connected by an undergrou ...
in 2024 with conductor
Hermann Bäumer leading the musical forces.
References
{{reflist
1891 operas
German-language operas
Operas based on myths and legends