On Swedish Radio P2
18.00 "I Firenze" av Helena Munktell
Opera i en akt. Libretto: Daniel Fallström. Solister: Susanna Andersson (Gemma), Joel Annmo (Stefano), Fredrik Zetterström (Bardi), Marcus Jupither (Bembo), Niklas Björling Rygert (Viarducci) och Torbjörn Lillieqvist (Sarsapilla). Radiokören. Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester. Dirigent: Tobias Ringborg. Konsertant framförande 9/6, Berwaldhallen. Munktell: 1. Bränningar. 2. "I Firenze". Programledare: Christina Tobeck. (3 hrs.)
If you missed it, you can listen this opera and symphonic poem Bränningar at http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/974301?programid=2359
Bränningar starts at 6:15
I Firenze starts at 23:58
For anyone interested I have made a copy and also edited copies without scene applause and with or without the Swedish dialogue.
Could you consider uploading it, please?
Which version, Alan?
For me, without applause or Swedish dialogue. Thanks!
I'll second that, thanks, Colin.
I've added the request to the downloads section. Enjoy!
Thanks very much indeed. Much appreciated!
Thanks, Colin. Just to complete the Munktell-fest, I've added to the Downloads board here (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,6659.msg70364.html#new) a recording of the broadcast of her symphonic poem Bränningar, which preceded I Firenze in the broadcast.
Saturday night on Swedish Radio P2:
In Florence by Helena Munktell
Helena Munktell became the first woman to have an opera performed in Sweden in 1889. Here it is brought back to life in a concert performance with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 2017.
In Florence is the first opera by a Swedish female composer who was recorded at the Royal Opera. A few years after the performance, it was performed at a semi-private event in Paris, and also received praise there in the press. Nevertheless, Florence remained unplayed for about 125 years, from the 1890s until 2017. The play is a simple triangle drama, and the work is sometimes referred to as an operetta, because it has spoken dialogue.
Here the score is brought to life, and the charming and time-honored little opera can once again be heard in a concert performance in the Berwald Hall.
n act.
Could you provide a link, please?
https://sverigesradio.se/p2
Sorry, could you provide an exact link, please? Thanks!
We already have it in the downloads!
The recording of I Firenze in our Downloads Board has been deleted as it's about to be released commercially by Sterling.
The Sterling CD was just released a couple weeks ago: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9306435--helena-munktell-i-firenze (https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9306435--helena-munktell-i-firenze)
Volume 9 of Sterling's "Romantic Opera in Sweden" series. Includes her Cantata and Women's Choirs at the Piano Forte.
Just listened to the entire work and I am not sure if I would classify it as an operetta. Yes, it is a lighthearted work and comic, but the writing for the most part has more depth than that by someone like Leo Fall.
The most beautiful moment in the work is the short Romance in the third scene. It has a warm spring day tone to it even though it is a song of pleading, because Stefano is recalling all of the happy moments with Gemma while at the same time suffering grief.
That will be the movement I return to regularly (and the overture as it contains that theme), but the entire work is good fun to pull out every now and then for a chuckle when it satirizes the arrogant art critics and their elitism.