Composer

:

Joachim Raff

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1848 - 1850

Movement_count

:

1

Movement ....

"King Alfred" is an opera composed by Joachim Raff, a Swiss-German composer, in 1870. The opera is based on the life of King Alfred the Great, who was a king of Wessex in the 9th century. The plot of the opera revolves around the life of King Alfred, his battles against the Danes, and his efforts to unite the various kingdoms of England. The opera is divided into four movements, each of which represents a different period in King Alfred's life. The first movement, "The Battle of Ashdown," depicts King Alfred's victory over the Danes at the Battle of Ashdown. The second movement, "The Marriage of Alfred," portrays King Alfred's marriage to Ealhswith, a noblewoman from Mercia. The third movement, "The Danes in England," shows the Danes invading England and King Alfred's efforts to repel them. The final movement, "The Union of the Kingdoms," depicts King Alfred's successful efforts to unite the various kingdoms of England under his rule. The opera premiered on March 31, 1871, at the Stadttheater in Weimar, Germany. The premiere was conducted by Franz Liszt, who was a friend and mentor to Raff. The opera was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and it was performed throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. One of the characteristics of "King Alfred" is its use of leitmotifs, which are musical themes that represent specific characters or ideas. For example, the leitmotif for King Alfred is a heroic and triumphant melody, while the leitmotif for the Danes is a dark and menacing melody. Raff also incorporates elements of English folk music into the opera, such as the use of bagpipes and folk melodies. Overall, "King Alfred" is a grand and epic opera that tells the story of one of England's most legendary kings. Its use of leitmotifs and incorporation of English folk music make it a unique and memorable work in the operatic repertoire.

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