OperaDB

Friedenstag

also Day of Peace

opera

Composer Richard Strauss

Librettist Joseph Gregor

Synopsis

As the Thirty Years' War drags into its last year, a besieged German town starves under Imperial orders to hold at any cost. When the townsfolk break into the citadel to beg for surrender, the Commandant refuses them, secretly resolved to blow up the fortress with himself and his garrison inside rather than yield.

Key facts

Premiere
24 July 1938, Nationaltheater München, Munich
Acts
1
Language
German (de)
Setting
The citadel of a besieged German town, never named, on 24 October 1648, the last day of the Thirty Years' War.

Notes

The only version. The libretto is by Joseph Gregor, from a synopsis by Stefan Zweig, set on the last day of the Thirty Years' War.

Dramatis personae

Role Voice Created by
Kommandant der belagerten Stadt Commandant of the besieged town. baritone Hans Hotter
Maria The Commandant's wife. soprano Viorica Ursuleac
Wachtmeister A sergeant, of the besieged town. bass Georg Hann
Schütze A corporal. tenor Julius Patzak
Konstabel A private soldier. baritone Georg Wieter
Musketier A musketeer. bass Karl Schmidt
Hornist A bugler. baritone Willi Merkert
Offizier An officer. baritone Emil Graf
Frontoffizier A front-line officer. baritone Josef Knapp
Ein Piemonteser A Piedmontese, of the besieging army. tenor Peter Anders
Der Holsteiner Commandant of the besieging army. bass Ludwig Weber
Bürgermeister The mayor. tenor Karl Ostertag
Prälat The bishop. baritone Franz Theo Reuter
Frau aus dem Volk A woman of the people. soprano Else Schürhoff

Source

Original libretto.

Written from