Ban Bank [1] ( Hungarian Bánk bán ) is a three-act opera by Hungarian composer Ferenc Erkel . It is considered the national opera of Hungary on the libretto of Beni Egresha based on the play of the same name by Jozsef Katona . The story describes the assassination of Gertrude , wife of King Andras II the Crusader in 1213.
| Opera | |
| Ban Bank | |
|---|---|
| Composer | |
| Librettist | |
| Tongue libretto | |
| Plot source | |
| Action | |
| Year of creation | |
| First production | |
| First Place | Hungarian State Opera House , Pest , Austria-Hungary |
First performance
The premiere of the entire opera took place on March 9, 1861 at the Hungarian State Opera House , Pest. The author conducted. Prior to this, individual scenes were performed in concerts.
Roles
| Role | Vote | Performers at the premiere [2] March 9, 1861 (Conductor: Ferenc Erkel) |
|---|---|---|
| Andras II , King of Hungary | baritone or bass baritone | Louis von Bigno |
| Gertrude Queen | mezzo soprano | Zofia Hofbauer |
| Otton I , brother of Gertrude, [son of Bertold IV ] | tenor | Albert Telek |
| , ban | tenor | Jozsef Ellinger |
| Melinda , his wife | soprano | Cornelia Holloshi |
| Ban Petur , the head of the nobles | baritone | Karol Kosedi |
| Tiborz , a peasant | baritone | Michal Furedi |
| Biberach , the roving knight | baritone or bass baritone | |
| Royal officer | tenor | |
| Standard bearer | baritone |
Contents
The action takes place in Hungary in 1213.
Act One
King Andras II is fighting in the Crusade. His wife, Gertrude (originally German from the Duchy of Meran ), feasts with guests, including many foreigners. Ban Bank is away, traveling around a devastated country. Otton, Gertrude's younger brother, is trying to seduce Melinda, the wife of Ban Ban. A group of Hungarian nobles led by Ban Petur, worried about the fate of the country and the honor of the Bank’s wife, is planning a plot. Petur sent for the Bank, hoping for his help. The bank comes in anger that an old friend dares threaten the throne. When Petur informs him of Otton's harassment, the Bank promises to attend a meeting of the conspirators.
Second Act
The Bank prays desperately for the country and its good name. On the terrace of the Visegrad castle, the peasant Tiborts tells him about the country's hopeless poverty due to the wastefulness of foreigners. Ban, lost in thought, barely listens to him. It turns out that Tiborts once saved the life of a ban in a battle and the Bank promises his help. Otton, approved by the queen, unsuccessfully tries to seduce Melinda, and, having poured poison to her, he rapes. She, distraught with horror, rushes to her husband. In a fit of grief, the Bank almost wreaks havoc on his little son, but, having regained consciousness, takes him in his arms and comforts his wife. He asks Tiborets to take her and her son to his castle across the Tisza River in eastern Hungary.
In the throne room, the Bank calls the queen to account for ruining the country and scolding the honor of his wife. Gertrude answers him with disdain and takes out a dagger. Ban tries to take away the dagger and in the battle the queen is mortally wounded. The bank is saddened by what it was forced to do.
Third Act
Tiborts with Melinda and her son reach the banks of the Tisza. In a fit of insanity, Melinda, with her son in her arms, rushes into the waters of the river in front of the helpless old peasant.
King Andras returns from the campaign. Standing at his hearse, he calls the nobles to account for the murder, but they deny their involvement. The bank makes a reservation, claiming that knowing the queen's guilt, he killed her intentionally. The king and the ban draw their swords, but Tiborz arrives with the corpses of Melinda and the child. The weapon falls from the hands of the Bank and it falls on the bodies. Nobles and servants pray for the repose of their souls.
Music
The opera is written in the style of romanticism with elements of the Hungarian national style “ verbunkos ”. The score uses unusual instruments for the opera, such as viola d'amur or cymbals .
Records
| Year | Orchestra and conductor | Composition | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra and Hungarian State Opera Chorus; Vilmos Komor (Conductor). | László Jámbor, Rózsi Delly, László Külkei, József Joviczky, Júlia Osváth, Jánoz Fodor, György Melis, György Radnai, József Bódy, Miklós Tóth. Recorded at the Erkel Theater . | LP: Qualiton HLPX 150-52 (three record set) (1956) |
| 1969 | Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra and Hungarian State Opera Chorus; János Ferencsik (conductor). | András Faragó, András Rajna, György Melis, László Palócz, Sándor Sólyom-Nagy, József Simándy , Karola Ágay, Erzsébet Komlóssy, József Réti, Imre Jóky | LP: Hungaroton LPX11376 - 78 (three record set) (1969) CD: DANACORD (two disc set) (1986) |
| 1993 | Hungarian Festival Chorus and Budapest Symphonists; Géza Oberfrank (conductor). | János Gurbán (II. Endre), Eva Marton (Gertrud), Tamás Daróczy (Ottó), András Molnár (Bánk Bán), Ingrid Kertesi (Melinda), István Gáti (Tiborc), Mihály Kálmáni ), Attila Fülöp (Royal officer), Pál Oberfrank (Ensign). Recorded 12-22 September 1993, Alpha Line Studio at the Italian Institute, Budapest | Audio CD: Alpha Line Records ALR 005-07 (three-disc set) |
| 2001 | Orchestra of the Hungarian Millennium, Honvéd Men's Chorus, Hungarian National Chorus; Támás Pál (conductor). | Kolos Kováts (The King of Hungary), Eva Marton (The Queen), Dénes Gulyás (Ottó, Prince of Meran), Atilla Kiss B. (Bánk Bán, Palatine of Hungary), Andrea Rost (his wife), Lajos Miller (Tiborc , a peasant), Sándor Sólyom-Nágy (Petur Bán, The Lord of Bihar), Attils Réti (Biberach, knight-adventurer), Bence Asztalos (Sólom Mester). Recorded March 13-19, 2001, Phoenix Studio, Budapest | Audio CD: Warner Music Hungary 0927 44606 (two disc set) |
| 2011 | Hungarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra; Domonkos Héja (conductor). | Tamás Busa, Gyöngyi Lukács, Attila Fekete, János Bándi, Ingrid Kertesi, Mihály Kálmándi, Csaba Szegedi, Béla Perencz, Lázsló Beöthy-Kiss | Audio CD: Opera Studio MAO001 (three disc set) |
Links
- Clavier of Opera at International Music Score Library Project
Literature
Opera libretto: A summary of the contents of the operas. T. 1, Comp. S. Pankratova, M., “Music”, 1978.
- ↑ Ban is the Hungarian title. Palatine , Viceroy. Viceroy of the king.
- ↑ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Bánk bán" . Almanacco Amadeus (Italian)