The Reward (opera)

The RewardJim Samson. Kurpiński, Karol Kazimierz / Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians () — Polish opera in 2 acts by Karol Kurpiński with libretto written by Ludwik Adam Dmuszewski. Its first performance took place on 24 December 1815 in Warsaw.

This opera was written "because of the desired arrival of the brightest Alexander I, Emperor and King of the newly resurrected Polish Kingdom""Z powodu pożądanego przybycia najjaśniejszego Alexandra I, Cesara i Króla do nowo-wskrzeszonego Królestwa Polskiego napisana" Its other titles are: The Reward, or The Resurrection of the Nation (Nagroda,Nagroda is normal spelling in Polish, while Nadgroda is archaic. czyli Wskrzeszenie narodu) The Brightest Guests, or The Reward (Najjaśniejsi goście, czyli Nagroda) The Reward, or the Resurrection of Polish Kingdom (Nagroda, czyli Wskrzeszenie Królestwa Polskiego)

An arrangement of the overture for piano was published in Tygodnik Muzyczny (1820 No.5). It appears to be the only part of the music to survive.

Roles Podczaszy (The Cup-bearer), heir of the estate Ekonom (The Steward) Organista (The Organist) Justyna, his daughter Basia, her friend, a peasant Grzegorz, former steward Stanisław, his son, former soldier

Chorus: Goście z sąsiedztwa (Guests from the neighborhood) Wieśniacy (Villagers)

The scene is staged in Kraków. Act I: a village Act II: palace garden.

The action takes place on 10 November 1815.

Music numbers Overture Act I (?) Maidens chorus. «Cieszmy się, ciesmy w tej radosnej chwili» (Scene I) Dumka (Justyna). «Gdym przestała bydż dziecięciem» (Scene I) Duet (Justyna and Basia). «Nadziejo, droga nadziejo!» (Scene II) Polonaise (Basia). «Jak prawdziwa Krakowianka» (Scene III) Duet (Justyna and Stanisław). «Ach jak szczęśliwy był dzisiejszy ranek» (Scene VIII) Finale (Justyna, Stanisław, Basia, Ekonom, Organista, a group of villagers). «Niech żyje! niech żyje! niech żyje!» (Scene X) Act II Mazurek (Organista). «Cieszmy się miłą nadzieją» (Scene I) (?) Chorus and krakowiaks. «Nasz sędziowy od Skalmierza» (Scene II) Cantata (text by Ludwik Osiński, music by Józef Elsner). «Jakaż radość weselnych rozwesela plemie?» (after the play)

External links Full text of the libretto

A performance of the overture arranged for piano (synthesized)

References