Libretto NIKOLA SUBIC ZRINSKI
The libretto was written by the Croatian poet Hugo Badalic (1851-1900) after a drama “ZRINY” by Theodor Korner (1791-1813). Ivan pl. Zajc composed the music.
“Nikola Subic Zrinski” is without doubt Zajc’s most communicative work. It is a heroic opera culminating in the final tragedy; a death of Szigeth’s brave defenders faced with the onslaught of Seljuk Turks on their expansion towards central Europe (1566).
Synopsis
In his camp in Belgrade ailing Suleyman II decided to wage a war and advance towards Vienna, although his physician Levi warns him against it. Before the attack on Vienna Szigeth has to be captured and its leader (ban) Zrinski vanquished.
The people of Szigeth sense the invasion and express their fear. Zrinski decides to make a stand and postpones the marriage of his daughter Jelena to his soldier Juranic. Zrinski proposes that women should be sent to Vienna for safety, but they all refuse. Sultan impatient, because unconquered Szigeth is hindering his advancements sends Sokolovic, the grand vizier to negotiate. Mehmed Sokolovic offers Zrinski to make him a king of Croatia and to spare the townsfolk should he hand over the keys of the city. Zrinski promptly refuses. Even after learning that his only son Juraj was captured, Zrinski with his family and troops repeats the solemn oath: By Almighty God I swear that I shall defend Szigeth with my blood; I will never leave you brothers, lest, my heart stops beating in my chest.
In the meantime Sultan dies, but his grand vizier conceals the death from his troops. Eva and her daughter Jelena took refuge in the basement of the old fortress. Jelena ‘s fiancé Juranic arrives with a message that they are ready for the imminent and decisive battle against much larger enemy. Jelena begs Juranic not to leave her and to: “take tis dagger. Let me die from your hand. Stab your Jelena” In consternation Juranic refuses, but there is no other resolution to the drama and he kills her before going into battle. In the last scene Zrinski says goodbye to his wife Eva. The troops and townsfolk gather together. With the joint cry “To arms, to arms, draw your swords” the draw-bridge is dropped, with Croatian flag held high by Zrinski, they all go to their death, but Vienna and the rest of Europe were spared.
PRAIZVEDBA:
PRAIZVEDBA OPERE NIKOLA ŠUBIC ZRINJSKI
4. studenoga – Velikoj turskoj vojsci pod zapovjedništvom sultana Sulejmana Velicanstvenog i vezira Mehmeda Sokolovica, koja se ljeti 1566. kretala prema još neosvojenom dijelu Ugarske, isprijecila se na putu mala tvrdava Siget i nevelika skupina hrabrih ljudi. Upornom obranom, pod zapovjedništvom hrvatskoga bana Nikole Zrinjskog, zadržana je turska vojska u opsadi mnogo duže nego je to itko mogao ocekivati. I nakon nestanka svake nade u pomoc carskih beckih trupa, posada Sigeta i dalje je branila grad i napokon gotovo sva izginula u posljednjem jurišu u rujnu 1566.
Taj dogadaj potaknuo je mnoge stvaraoce da pokušaju scenski prikazati zbivanja u Sigetu. Prvi je to ucinio njemacki dramaticar Teodor Kerner, cijom je dramom Niklas graf von Zriny otvorena 4. listopada 1834. prva kazališna zgrada u Zagrebu – Stankovicev gornjogradski teatar.
Medutim, najznacajnije djelo na tu temu sigetskog boja stvorio je skladatelj Ivan Zajc. Njegova opera Nikola Šubic Zrinjski skladana na libreto Huge Badalica, prvi je put izvedena u Zagrebu 4. studenoga 1876.
To je djelo zrela majstora, nadahnuto nacionalnim osjecajem, za ono doba znalacki pisana opera, dramaturški cjelovita i s odlicno postavljenim skupnim prizorima, osobito u završnim zborovima. Vodenje i razvijanje pjevacke linije temelji se na talijanskom belkantu, ali se ipak osjeca i prizvuk hrvatske melodike. Umjetnicke znacajke Nikole Šubica Zrinjskog svrstavaju to djelo u red najboljih hrvatskih opernih ostvarenja.
Source for pictures and some text: www.hrt.hr/arhiv/ndd/11studeni/ 1104%20Praizvedba.htm
Toronto Committee for the Promotion of Croatian Opera: producer Edward Mavrinac, with Aranka Lengyel & Srebrenka Bogovic. (e-mail:[email protected])
Op-ed
Please help and support this HISTORIC MOMENT. Call /emailproducers and ask them if they need help and which kind of help.
best,
Nenad Bach
Any help in staging the Croatian national opera Nikola SubicZrinski is still welcome and much appreciated. Donations (regardless of thesum!) will be acknowledged in the commemorative booklet and for Canadian donorsa tax receipt will be issued. There is also an opportunity to advertise(business, personal “… in memory of”, congratulations etc.) in theCommemorative Booklet: black & white or colour. In Canadian funds: full page$400.00(b&w), $600.00 (color), 1/2 page $250.00 (b&w), $400.00 (color),1/4 page $175.00 (b&w) $300.00 (color), 1/8 $100.00 (b&w), $200.00(color).
Please make your cheque payable to “ZRINSKI-OPERA MISSISSAUGA”
Address: Zrinski-Opera Mississauga, The Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living ArtsDrive, Mississauga, Ontario, L5B 4B8, and Canada