The Middle Ages and folksongs
The composer Peter Heise and the librettist Christian Richardt were both in the their late forties in 1878 when they completed their tense opera on the murder mystery of King Erik Klipping at Finderup Lade on November 22, 1286. The subject had everything the heart could desire as regards love, drama and vengeance. The composer wrote to the librettist that he wanted a very sensual rendering of the story, among other things Heise wanted King Erik to be portrayed as "a really passionate, irresistible, sensuous" person. And that's just what he got.
Love and drama
When Marshal Stig goes off to war to defend Denmark and the honour of the king, he asks the king to look after his spouse Ingeborg. We in the audience immediately smell a rat but here the composer restrains the audience with a minuet from the Middle Ages. Otherwise the music in the work is completely in keeping with the times, while at the same time containing references to Danish folksongs. The choir plays a major role - not least in the pompous finale, "The Song of Distress" ("Vaadesangen), about the country that is in distress, meaning without a leader. Heise was normally a composer of songs, but he shows here his ability to successfully carry off the task of writing the libretto for an opera. All the way from Aase's little songs with their folksong tone and simple accompaniment through to the dramatic songs of the king at Finderup Lade with their aria-like characteristics and use of a huge dramatic orchestra.
A classic work
On and off King & Marshal has been a permanent part of the Danish operatic repertoire ever since it was composed. The work is considered today to be one of the few Danish opera classics.
Finn Gravesen is an author and editor, his latest work being "Who owns the music?" ("Hvem ejer musikken?") (2006) commissioned by the Ministry of Culture.
Paintint by Otto Bache, 1882. Photo: Kit Weiss.