Organization

Conductor

Michael Schønwandt

Stage director

Kasper Holten

Amy Lane

Set designer

Philipp Fürhofer

Costume designer

Anja Vang Kragh

Singer

Bass-baritone

Johan Reuter

Marsk Stig

Tenor

Gert Henning-Jensen

Rane Johnsen

Soprano

Sine Bundgaard

Fru Ingeborg

Sofie Elkjær Jensen

Aase

Bass

Morten Staugaard

Graf Jakob v. Halland

Royal Danish Opera

Orchestra

Det Kongelige Kapel

Others

Det Kongelige Operakor

Lighting designer

Jesper Kongshaug

Per Bach Nissen

Jens Grand

Anders Kampmann

Arved Bengsten

Marcus Dawson

Herard

Choreographer

Jo Meredith

Miles Hoare

Niels Jørgen Riis

Kong Erik

Danish

Drot og Marsk -  (King and Marshal)

Copenhagen

Denmark

Operaen (Copenhagen Opera House)

Store Scene

Drot og Marsk Peter Heise

Public

King and Marshal

Delfina Gago

English

Approved

Den danske nationalopera om et blodigt kapitel i Danmarkshistorien

Heises opera Drot og Marsk om mordet på kong Erik Klipping er et knivskarpt musikdrama om konspiration, magt og mord. 

Kong Erik lever et udsvævende og beskyttet liv på sit slot og har travlt med at feste og forføre kvinder i stedet for at regere sit land og sin hær. Den reelle magthaver, hærchefen marsk Stig, holder kongen isoleret i lykkelig uvidenhed, og imens planlægger han et statskup. Men for at sætte kongen endeligt skakmat må marsken ofre den, han elsker allerhøjest.

Komponisten Peter Heise og librettisten Christian Richardt skildrer i Drot og marsk myten om marsk Stig, der i 1286 i Finderup Lade førte kniven mod kong Erik sammen med adskillige sammensvorne adelsmænd. Instruktørparret Kasper Holten og Amy Lane fokuserer på sammenstødet mellem kongens naive og dekadente liv og den rå politiske magt, der manipulerer kongen direkte mod hans undergang og et statskup.

Den Kongelige Operas solister lægger stemme til de historiske skikkelser: Niels Jørgen Riis er kong Erik, Sine Bundgaard er fru Ingeborg, og Sofie Elkjær Jensen er Aase. Johan Reuter genbesøger Det Kongelige Teater i rollen som den magtfulde marsk Stig. Det Kongelige Teaters tidligere chefdirigent og specialist i dansk musik, Michael Schønwandt, dirigerer Heises medrivende og dramatiske musik.

I scenografien til Drot og Marsk indgår flytbare vægge med smukke naturskildringer. En af væggene har tydelig henvisning til Otto Baches maleri De sammensvorne rider fra Finderup efter mordet på Erik Klipping Skt. Cæcilienat. Otto Baches maleri er desuden i udsnit gengivet på omslaget til forestillingsprogrammet.

Drot og marsk synges på dansk med danske overtekster.

dansk

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.

King and Marshal by Heise, From (2024/2024), Directed by Kasper Holten, Amy Lane,, Conductor Michael Schønwandt, Operaen (Copenhagen Opera House), Copenhagen, Denmark

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues