Alfonso und Estrella, D. 732

Composer: Schubert, Franz

Librettist/Text Author: Schober, Franz von

Conductor: Korsten, Gerard

Orchestra: Cagliari Teatro Lirico Orchestra

Chorus: Cagliari Teatro Lirico Chorus

Chorus Master: Vero, Paolo

Adolfo: Muff, Alfred

Alfonso: Trost, Rainer

Boy: Chernoch, Pavel

Estrella: Mei, Eva

Froila: Werba, Markus

Girl: Monti, Elena

Guards' leader: Cossutta, Enrico

Mauregato: Schmeckenbecher, Jochen

Set Designer: Palli, Margherita

Costume Designer: Palli, Margherita

Lighting Designer: Levi, Guido

Stage Director: Ronconi, Luca

Television Director: Scalfi, Marco

---

Date of Production: 2004

Venue: Teatro Lirico di Cagliari

Playing Time: 02:11:56

Catalogue Number: 33451

Synopsis

Alfonso und Estrella, D. 732

---

Most of Schubert's operas were written without a specific commission, in the hope that, once completed, some theatre might find them interesting simply by virtue of their musical value. This unrealistic optimism proved almost always wrong and Schubert suffered bitter disappointments, very often working for nothing. Begun on 20 September 1821, Alfonso und Estrella was completed on 27 February 1822 but was first staged, on the initiative of Franz Liszt, only in 1854, after Schubert's death. Alfonso und Estrella has the characteristic climate of a romantische Oper. If it is true that Schubert lacks the sense of theatre which is typical of the best operatic composers of his day (for example Weber), the power of his creativity and beauty of many arias cannot be denied.