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| language = Italian
| language = Italian
| based_on = [[Moctezuma II|Montezuma]]
| premiere_date = {{Start date|1755|01|06|df=y}}
| premiere_date = {{Start date|1755|01|06|df=y}}
| premiere_location = [[Berlin State Opera#History|Königliches Opernhaus]], Berlin
| premiere_location = [[Berlin State Opera#History|Königliches Opernhaus]], Berlin
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'''''Montezuma''''' is an [[opera seria]] in three acts by the German composer [[Carl Heinrich Graun]]. The [[libretto]] was written in French by Graun's patron, [[Frederick the Great]], the King of Prussia, and turned into an Italian libretto by Giampetro Tagliazucchi.
'''''Montezuma''''' is an [[opera seria]] in three acts by the German composer [[Carl Heinrich Graun]]. The [[libretto]] was written in French by Graun's patron, [[Frederick the Great]], the King of Prussia, and turned into an Italian libretto by Giampetro Tagliazucchi.


The work's plot concerns [[Hernán Cortés]]'s [[Spanish conquest of Mexico|conquest of Mexico]] and the defeat of the [[Aztec]] emperor [[Moctezuma II|Montezuma]]. It was first performed at the [[Berlin State Opera#History|Königliches Opernhaus]] (Royal court opera) in Berlin on 6 January 1755. The title role was originally performed by a [[castrato]], but today is performed by either a male [[countertenor]] or a female [[mezzo-soprano]].<ref>''The Viking Opera Guide'' ed. Holden (1993)</ref> The seven roles are Erissena (s), Eupaforice (s), Montezuma (ms), Tezeuco (alto), Pilpatoè (t), Narvès (t) and Cortès (b).
The work's plot concerns [[Hernán Cortés]]'s [[Spanish conquest of Mexico|conquest of Mexico]] and the defeat of the [[Aztec]] emperor [[Moctezuma II|Montezuma]]. It was first performed at the [[Berlin State Opera#History|Königliches Opernhaus]] (Royal court opera) in Berlin on 6 January 1755. The title role was originally performed by a [[castrato]], but today is performed by either a male [[countertenor]] or a female [[mezzo-soprano]].<ref>''The Viking Opera Guide'' ed. Holden (1993)</ref> The seven roles are Erissena (s), Eupaforice (s), Montezuma (ms), Tezeuco (alto), Pilpatoè (s), Narvès (t) and Cortès (b). In the original production, Giovanni Cinzio Tedeschi, a musico who sang under the stage name Amadori, and whose tenure in Berlin lasted only about a year, created the role of Montezuma. Giovanna Astrua portrayed Eupaforice. Antonio Huber (also spelled Uber), a musico known as Porporino, sang Cortes. The tenor Antonio Romani sang Tezeuco; the musico Paulo Bedeschi, known as Paulino, sang Pilpatoe; the musico Carlo Martinengo sang Narves; and Maria Giovanna Gasparini sang Erissena.<ref>John A. Rice, "Opera at the Court of Frederick the Great: Montezuma as Royal Autobiography. https://www.academia.edu/7135439/Opera_at_the_Court_of_Frederick_the_Great_Grauns_Montezuma_as_Royal_Autobiography</ref>


==Performances and recordings==
==Performances and recordings==
The U.S. premiere was given on 14 February 1973 by the Associate Artists Opera Company<ref>[http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=111356 The Harvard Crimson]</ref> at the [[Cyclorama of the Boston Center for the Arts]].<ref>[http://openlibrary.org/b/OL5482642M Open Library]</ref> Ernest Tripplett (founder of the company) sang the title role, supported by Richard Conrad, Mary Strebing, Wayne Riviera, Alexander Stevenson and Luther Enstad. John Minor conducted, with scenery by William Fregosi. ''Montezuma'' was performed in Montpellier in 1990 (under Latham-König) and in Edinburgh and Madrid in 2010 (under Garrido, who made cuts), and it will be performed by Berlin's Staatsoper at the Schiller Theater in January 2012, led by Michael Hofstetter.
The U.S. premiere was given on 14 February 1973 by the Associate Artists Opera Company<ref>[http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=111356 The Harvard Crimson]</ref> at the [[Cyclorama of the Boston Center for the Arts]].<ref>[https://openlibrary.org/b/OL5482642M Open Library]</ref> Ernest Tripplett (founder of the company) sang the title role, supported by Richard Conrad, Mary Strebing, Wayne Riviera, Alexander Stevenson and Luther Enstad. John Minor conducted, with scenery by William Fregosi. ''Montezuma'' was performed in Montpellier in 1990 (under Latham-König) and in Edinburgh and Madrid in 2010 (under Garrido, who made cuts), and it will be performed by Berlin's Staatsoper at the Schiller Theater in January 2012, led by [[Michael Hofstetter]].


The first studio recording of the complete opera was made in 1991 and released on the Capriccio label. It was conducted by [[Johannes Goritzki]].<ref>[http://www.hbdirect.com/album_detail.php?pid=43433 hb direct]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://voyager.uvm.edu/bibs/bid636542.html University of Vermont Libraries]</ref> Another complete recording had been made live the previous year in Montpellier and broadcast by Radio France. One of the 2010 Madrid performances was recorded, too, and later broadcast by Czech Radio and possibly other broadcasters. Extended highlights from the opera, without the character Narvès, were recorded in 1966 by Decca: [[Lauris Elms]] in the title role, and [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Elizabeth Harwood]] and [[Joseph Ward]], conducted by [[Richard Bonynge]].<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Bononcini-Griselda-Highlights-Graun-Montezuma/dp/B00000IP6X amazon]</ref>
The first studio recording of the complete opera was made in 1991 and released on the Capriccio label. It was conducted by [[Johannes Goritzki]].<ref>[http://www.hbdirect.com/album_detail.php?pid=43433 hb direct]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://voyager.uvm.edu/bibs/bid636542.html |title=University of Vermont Libraries |access-date=2008-12-04 |archive-date=2008-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316151503/http://voyager.uvm.edu/bibs/bid636542.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another complete recording had been made live the previous year in Montpellier and broadcast by Radio France. One of the 2010 Madrid performances was recorded, too, and later broadcast by Czech Radio and possibly other broadcasters. Extended highlights from the opera, without the character Narvès, were recorded in 1966 by Decca: [[Lauris Elms]] in the title role, and [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Elizabeth Harwood]] and [[Joseph Ward]], conducted by [[Richard Bonynge]].<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Bononcini-Griselda-Highlights-Graun-Montezuma/dp/B00000IP6X amazon]</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 17:51, 7 January 2023

Montezuma
opera seria by Carl Heinrich Graun
The composer in 1752
Librettist
LanguageItalian
Premiere
6 January 1755 (1755-01-06)

Montezuma is an opera seria in three acts by the German composer Carl Heinrich Graun. The libretto was written in French by Graun's patron, Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia, and turned into an Italian libretto by Giampetro Tagliazucchi.

The work's plot concerns Hernán Cortés's conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the Aztec emperor Montezuma. It was first performed at the Königliches Opernhaus (Royal court opera) in Berlin on 6 January 1755. The title role was originally performed by a castrato, but today is performed by either a male countertenor or a female mezzo-soprano.[1] The seven roles are Erissena (s), Eupaforice (s), Montezuma (ms), Tezeuco (alto), Pilpatoè (s), Narvès (t) and Cortès (b). In the original production, Giovanni Cinzio Tedeschi, a musico who sang under the stage name Amadori, and whose tenure in Berlin lasted only about a year, created the role of Montezuma. Giovanna Astrua portrayed Eupaforice. Antonio Huber (also spelled Uber), a musico known as Porporino, sang Cortes. The tenor Antonio Romani sang Tezeuco; the musico Paulo Bedeschi, known as Paulino, sang Pilpatoe; the musico Carlo Martinengo sang Narves; and Maria Giovanna Gasparini sang Erissena.[2]

Performances and recordings

[edit]

The U.S. premiere was given on 14 February 1973 by the Associate Artists Opera Company[3] at the Cyclorama of the Boston Center for the Arts.[4] Ernest Tripplett (founder of the company) sang the title role, supported by Richard Conrad, Mary Strebing, Wayne Riviera, Alexander Stevenson and Luther Enstad. John Minor conducted, with scenery by William Fregosi. Montezuma was performed in Montpellier in 1990 (under Latham-König) and in Edinburgh and Madrid in 2010 (under Garrido, who made cuts), and it will be performed by Berlin's Staatsoper at the Schiller Theater in January 2012, led by Michael Hofstetter.

The first studio recording of the complete opera was made in 1991 and released on the Capriccio label. It was conducted by Johannes Goritzki.[5][6] Another complete recording had been made live the previous year in Montpellier and broadcast by Radio France. One of the 2010 Madrid performances was recorded, too, and later broadcast by Czech Radio and possibly other broadcasters. Extended highlights from the opera, without the character Narvès, were recorded in 1966 by Decca: Lauris Elms in the title role, and Joan Sutherland, Elizabeth Harwood and Joseph Ward, conducted by Richard Bonynge.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (1993)
  2. ^ John A. Rice, "Opera at the Court of Frederick the Great: Montezuma as Royal Autobiography. https://www.academia.edu/7135439/Opera_at_the_Court_of_Frederick_the_Great_Grauns_Montezuma_as_Royal_Autobiography
  3. ^ The Harvard Crimson
  4. ^ Open Library
  5. ^ hb direct[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "University of Vermont Libraries". Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  7. ^ amazon