Montezuma (Graun)
Template:Graun operas Montezuma is an opera seria in three acts by the German composer Carl Heinrich Graun. The scenario 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. The title role was originally performed by a castrato, but today is performed by either a male countertenor or female mezzo-soprano.[1]
Performances
The U.S. premiere was given on 14 February 1973 by the Associate Artists Opera Company[2] at the Cyclorama Boston Center for the Arts.[3]
The first recording of the complete opera was made in 1991 and released on the Capriccio label. It was conducted by Johannes Goritzki.[4][5] Another complete recording had been made live the previous year in Montpellier, France, under the baton of Latham-König. Extended highlights from the opera were recorded in 1967 by Decca, with Lauris Elms (title role), Joan Sutherland, Elizabeth Harwood and Joseph Ward, conducted by Richard Bonynge.[6]
References
- ^ The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (1993)
- ^ The Harvard Crimson
- ^ Open Library
- ^ hb direct
- ^ University of Vermont Libraries
- ^ amazon