Chamber operas at Ricordi Munich

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King for a Day (Un giorno di regno)

Opera in two acts by Giuseppe Verdi

Text und dramaturgicaladaptation: Barbara Hass/ Philipp Kochheim from Felice Romani
Musical adaptation: Malte Kroidl

Premiere of this version: 21st October 1998, Hamburg Chamber Opera

Cast
Chevalier Beaufleur, alias Stanislaus, King of Poland (Baritone)
Dumont, alias Charivar, servant to Chevalier Beaufleur (Baritone)
Baron de Kelbar (Bass)
Juliette de Kelbar, the baron’s daughter (Mezzo-soprano)
Marquise de Coteau, the baron’s niece (Soprano)
Edouard de Saintval, young officer (Tenor)
Seigneur Gaspard Antoine de la Roche, treasurer (Baritone)

2 Violins
Viola
Contrabass
Flute
Clarinet
Bassoon

Duration: 2 ¼ hours

In this early Verdi opera, everything was presented in the carefree style, that we came to love with the later Verdi: abrupt, vehement chords, that beckon and drive a musical phrase, clear and wide curved melodies, gripping harmonisations of ensemble movements. […] (Joachim Kaiser)

Out of the rather undeveloped role of the servant Dumont, I have […] developed a third buffa selection. I consciously avoided copying passages from other Verdi operas. On the contrary, with the help of dramaturgical tricks that I have incorporated, the figure is given the role of a lady’s maid and those of the old Conte Ivraie, which opens the door for new comedy aspects. […] (Barbara Hass)

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