Opera Scotland

Freunde von Salamanka Die Freunde von Salamanka; The Friends from Salamanca

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Music

Franz Schubert (born Vienna, 31 January 1797; died Vienna, 19 November 1828)

Text

Johann Mayrhofer

Source

Original

 

Premières

First performance: Halle (Theater des Friedens), 6 May 1928.

First UK performance: Edinburgh (Usher Hall), 24 August 1993 (concert).

First performance in Scotland: As above.

Scottish Opera première: N/A.

 

Background

Composed in 1815, this work was not performed in Schubert's lifetime. It is a comedy containing a great deal of attractive music, though only an outline of the plot is known. The dialogue is now lost, believed to have been destroyed by the librettist himself, a poet who later provided texts for many of Schubert's songs. The plot concerns three students (Salamanca being an important university centre for many centuries). The aristocratic Don Alonso pays court to Countess Olivia, with opposition from the eligible but idiotic Count Tormes. Alonso's two friends, Diego and Fidelio, also find suitable matches.

 

Main Characters

Don Alonso, in love with Olivia (tenor)

Diego, his friend, in love with Laura (tenor)

Fidelio, another friend, in love with Eusebia (bass)

Countess Olivia (soprano)

Laura, her companion (soprano)

Eusebia, another companion (soprano)

The Alcade, Laura's guardian (baritone)

Count Tormes, a fop, in love with Olivia (tenor)