Der Trompeter von Säckingen
# Der Trompeter von Säckingen

Der Trompeter von Säckingen (The Trumpeter of Säckingen) is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Viktor Nessler. The German libretto was by Rudolf Bunge [de], based on the epic poem, Der Trompeter von Säkkingen [sic], by Joseph Victor von Scheffel.

## Performance history

Arthur Nikisch, to whom Nessler dedicated the opera, conducted the first performance at the Carola-Theater [de] (or Stadttheater) in Leipzig on 4 May 1884. It was Nessler's greatest success, albeit in part because of the popularity of von Scheffel's poem. It was subsequently given at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on 23 November 1887, and at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London on 8 July 1892 by the Hamburg Stadttheater, conducted by Leo Feld.

## Roles

Roles, voice types, premiere cast :

| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 4 May 1884 Conductor: Arthur Nikisch |
| - | - | - |
| Werner Kirchhofer, law student, later a trumpeter | baritone | Otto Schelper |
| Konradin, a trumpeter | bass | Karl Grengg |
| Baron von Schönau | bass | Karl Grengg |
| Maria, daughter of the Baron | soprano | Margarethe Jahns |
| Count von Wildenstein | bass | Karl Grengg |
| Countess Wildenstein, Maria's aunt, former wife of the Count | contralto | |
| Damian, son of the Count by a subsequent wife | tenor | George Marion |
| The majordomo | baritone | |
| The rector | bass | Karl Grengg |

## Synopsis

Setting: 17th-century Heidelberg and Säkkingen, after the Thirty Years' War. The trumpeter Werner loves Maria, the daughter of the Baron, but her father and mother want her to marry the cowardly Damian. Werner proves himself a hero and is opportunely discovered to be of noble birth, so all ends happily.

## Recordings

* Nessler: Der Trompeter von Säckingen – WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln and Chorus, conductor: Helmuth Froschauer, Alfred Kuhn (bass); Christoph Späth (tenor); Franz Hawlata [de] (bass); Hermann Prey (baritone); Katharina Kammerloher (mezzo-soprano); 2013 [1994] Capriccio C5187 (CD)

## Sources

* ↑ Score, p. 1, Schubert & Co, Leipzig 1884
* ↑ "Der Trompeter von Säckingen" (Capriccio), Chandos Records, includes liner notes.
* Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Der Trompeter von Säkkingen, 4 May 1884". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
* Franklin, Peter (1992), "Trompeter von Säckingen, Der" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
