Organization

Conductor

Conductor (+1)

Michael Schønwandt

Stage director

Kasper Holten

Stage director (+3)

Amy Lane

Set designer

Set designer (+1)

Philipp Fürhofer

Costume designer

Costume designer (+1)

Anja Vang Kragh

Bass-baritone (+3)

Johan Reuter

Marsk Stig

Tenor (+3)

Gert Henning-Jensen

Rane Johnsen

Soprano (+2)

Sine Bundgaard

Fru Ingeborg

Soprano

Sofie Elkjær Jensen

Aase

Bass (+2)

Morten Staugaard

Graf Jakob v. Halland

Royal Danish Opera

Orchestra

Royal Danish Orchestra

Chorus

Danish Royal Opera Chorus

Lighting designer

Lighting designer (+2)

Jesper Kongshaug

Per Bach Nissen

Jens Grand

Tenor (+1)

Anders Kampmann

Arved Bengsten

Bass (+1)

Marcus Dawson

Herard

Choreographer

Jo Meredith

Miles Hoare

Tenor

Niels Jørgen Riis

Kong Erik

Operaen (Copenhagen Opera House)

A Danish national opera about a blood-soaked chapter of Danish history

Heise’s opera King and Marshal is the story of the assassination of King Eric Klipping, an incisive musical drama about conspiracy, power and murder. 

King Eric leads a debauched and sheltered life in his castle and is busy partying and seducing women rather than ruling his country and leading his army. The real holder of power, the army chief Marshal Stig, keeps the king isolated in blissful ignorance, all while he plans a coup d’état. But to finally checkmate the king, the marshal must sacrifice the one he loves. 

Composer Peter Heise and librettist Christian Richardt convey in King and Marshal the legend of Marshal Stig, who in 1286 conspired with several noblemen to assassinate King Eric. Directors Kasper Holten and Amy Lane spotlight the clash between the monarch’s naive and decadent lifestyle and the crude political manipulation he was subjected to, which finally lead to his downfall and a coup d’état. 

Soloists from the Royal Danish Opera lend their voices to the historical figures of the opera: Niels Jørgen Riis masters the role of King Eric, Sine Bundgaard embodies Mrs. Ingeborg, while Sofie Elkjær Jensen plays Aase. Johan Reuter revisits the Royal Danish Opera in the role of the power-hungry Marshal Stig. The Royal Danish Theatre’s former Chief Conductor and specialist in Danish music, Michael Schønwandt, conducts Heise’s compelling and dramatic music. 

The set design for King and Marshal includes movable walls with beautiful depictions of nature. One of the walls has a clear reference to Otto Bache's painting "De sammensvorne rider fra Finderup efter mordet på Erik Klipping Skt. Cæcilienat". Otto Bache's painting is also partially reproduced on the cover of the performance programme.

King and Marshal is performed in Danish with Danish supertitles.

Drot og Marsk (King and Marshal), Heise

Cast

Marsk Stig

Rane Johnsen

Fru Ingeborg

Aase

Graf Jakob v. Halland

Jens Grand

Arved Bengsten

Herard

Kong Erik

Crew

Stage director

Conductor

Set designer

Costume designer

Lighting designer

Choreographer

Instrumentation

Producer

Producer

Ensemble

Orchestra

Chorus

Co-Producer

About

Composer

Librettist

Description

Production synopsis