# König Manfred

King Manfred (König Manfred), Op. 93 is a grand romantic opera in 5 acts by Carl Reinecke to libretto by Friedrich Roeber. It was composed in 1866 and staged in 1867.

## History

The music was composed from April to December 1866 in Leipzig, where Reinecke was already director of the Gewandhaus concerts and professor at the Leipzig Conservatory. The first performance took place at the Royal Court Theater of Wiesbaden on 26 July 1867 with Wilhelm Jahn as conductor. Although it was a huge success, the opera remained in repertoire only for a while (a printed libretto appeared as late as in 1881). The Overture and the Prelude to Act V were among Reinecke's most favorite compositions.
The full score of the opera was published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1868, as well as the vocal score, prepared by composer himself. Several popular excerpts were published in different arrangements.

## Roles

| Role | Role | Voice type |
| Charles of Anjou | Charles of Anjou | — |
| King Manfred | King Manfred | tenor |
| Helen, his spouse | Helen, his spouse | soprano |
| Octavianus, legate and cardinal | Octavianus, legate and cardinal | bass |
| Fulco | Apulian and Sicilian barons, banished by Manfred | tenor I |
| Ruffo | Apulian and Sicilian barons, banished by Manfred | tenor II |
| Borello | Apulian and Sicilian barons, banished by Manfred | baritone |
| Fasanella | Apulian and Sicilian barons, banished by Manfred | baritone |
| Annibaldi | Apulian and Sicilian barons, banished by Manfred | bass |
| Ghismonda, a nun | Ghismonda, a nun | soprano |
| Eckart | Eckart | baritone |
| A page | A page | mezzo-soprano |
| Chorus: fishermen, male and female Saracens, banished people ||||

## Synopsis

The opera deals with Manfred, 13th-century King of Sicily (1232-1266), against whom was half Europe: eventually he fell in battle against Charles I of Anjou. The action takes place in 1266 in Naples and Benevento.

## List of musical numbers

The following list is based on the Breitkopf & Härtel 1868 vocal score.
* Overture

### Act I

* No. 1. Chor
* No. 2.
* No. 3. Arie mit Chor
* No. 4. Sextett mit Chor
* No. 5. Recitativ und Arie
* No. 6. Recitativ
* No. 7. Lied mit Chor
* No. 8. Recitativ und Terzett
* No. 9. Finale

### Act II

* No. 10.
* No. 11. Duett
* No. 12. Solo mit Chor
* No. 13.
* No. 14. Duett
* No. 15. Lied
* No. 16. Scene und Duett

### Act III

* No. 17. Chor
* No. 18. Recitativ und Terzett
* No. 19. Chor und Ballett
* No. 20. Finale

### Act IV

* No. 21. Entr'act
* No. 22. Duett mit Ballett
* No. 23. Recitativ und Duett
* No. 24. Duett
* No. 25. Recitativ und Arie
* No. 26. Recitativ
* No. 27. Arie
* No. 28. Finale

### Act V

* No. 29. Vorspiel
* No. 30. Recitativ
* No. 31. Romanze
* No. 32. Recitativ und Arie
* No. 33. Recitativ und Scene
* No. 34. Recitativ und Chor
* No. 35. Recitativ
* No. 36. Arioso und Schlusschor

## Recordings

* (rec. 1987) Carl Reinecke: Symphony No. 1; King Manfred (Overture; Nos. 21 & 29; part II of No. 19) — Rhenish Philharmonic Orchestra, Alfred Walter — Marco Polo 8.223117 (reissued Naxos 8.555397)
* (rec. 2013, 2014, 2016) Carl Reinecke: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1: Symphonies 1 & 3; König Manfred (Overture; Nos. 21 & 29) — Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Henry Raudales — cpo 555 114-2