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- Judith Weir
King Harald's Saga (1979)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Commissioned by Jane Manning with funds from the Arts Council
- Soprano, singing 8 roles
- 10 min
- the composer
- English
- 10th June 2024, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Programme Note
BRIEF PROGRAMME NOTE
The story of the Norwegian invasion of England in 1066 led by King Harald ‘Hardradi’, which ended in defeat at the battle of Stamford Bridge, nineteen days before the successful Norman invasion at the Battle of Hastings.
COMPOSER'S NOTE
King Harald's Saga is a 3-act opera based, as is a good deal of 19th century opera, on an actual historical event; in this case, the Norwegian invasion of England in 1066 led by King Harald 'Hardradi', which ended in defeat at the battle of Stamford Bridge, 19 days before the successful Norman invasion at the Battle of Hastings.
As King Harald's Saga is scored for solo soprano and lasts just under ten minutes, a certain amount of compression has been necessary. The soprano sings 8 solo roles, as well as the part of the Norwegian army; and none of the work's musical items lasts over a minute. Furthermore, since it would be difficult to stage a work which progresses so quickly, the soprano gives a short spoken introduction to each act to establish the staging, as might happen in a radio broadcast of a staged opera.
The musical items are as follows: Act 1 - Harald (aria), Fanfare, Tostig (aria); Act 2 - St Olaf (aria), Harald (aria), Harald's wives (duet); Act 3 - the Norwegian Army (chorus), Messenger (recit), Soldier (aria); Epilogue - the Icelandic sage (recit).
Much of the detail in the libretto has been taken from the account of the invasion in the 13th century Icelandic saga Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241).
King Harold's Saga was written in 1979 and commissioned by Jane Manning with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain.
© Judith Weir
The story of the Norwegian invasion of England in 1066 led by King Harald ‘Hardradi’, which ended in defeat at the battle of Stamford Bridge, nineteen days before the successful Norman invasion at the Battle of Hastings.
COMPOSER'S NOTE
King Harald's Saga is a 3-act opera based, as is a good deal of 19th century opera, on an actual historical event; in this case, the Norwegian invasion of England in 1066 led by King Harald 'Hardradi', which ended in defeat at the battle of Stamford Bridge, 19 days before the successful Norman invasion at the Battle of Hastings.
As King Harald's Saga is scored for solo soprano and lasts just under ten minutes, a certain amount of compression has been necessary. The soprano sings 8 solo roles, as well as the part of the Norwegian army; and none of the work's musical items lasts over a minute. Furthermore, since it would be difficult to stage a work which progresses so quickly, the soprano gives a short spoken introduction to each act to establish the staging, as might happen in a radio broadcast of a staged opera.
The musical items are as follows: Act 1 - Harald (aria), Fanfare, Tostig (aria); Act 2 - St Olaf (aria), Harald (aria), Harald's wives (duet); Act 3 - the Norwegian Army (chorus), Messenger (recit), Soldier (aria); Epilogue - the Icelandic sage (recit).
Much of the detail in the libretto has been taken from the account of the invasion in the 13th century Icelandic saga Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241).
King Harold's Saga was written in 1979 and commissioned by Jane Manning with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain.
© Judith Weir
Media
King Harald's Saga - Act I (Judith Weir)
King Harald's Saga - Act II (Judith Weir)
King Harald's Saga - Act III (Judith Weir)
King Harald's Saga - Epilogue (Judith Weir)
Scores
Score sample
Reviews
Discography
More Info
- Judith Weir to be Featured Musician at Aldeburgh Festival 2024
- 19th December 2023
- Judith Weir will be a Featured Artist at the 2024 Aldeburgh Festival with the performance of over a dozen of her works, including the world premieres of String Quartet No. 2 'The Spaniard' and Planet.