Wallenstein

Libretto by Milos Kares after Schiller; German translation by Max Brod (Cz,G)

2S,5T,Bar,2BBar,3B; chorus;
3.2(II=corA).2(II=bcl).2(II=dbn)-4.3.3.1-timp.perc-harp-strings

1634, Northern Bohemia

General Wallenstein – whose army, a very motley crew, is devoted to him – conspires against the Emperor. A Capuchin friar berates the soldiers for carousing on a Sunday and fulminates against Wallenstein, whose negotiations with the Swedes have been discovered. Wallenstein, whose fatal flaw is indecision, puts his trusted lieutenant, Octavio Piccolomini, in charge of a large body of soldiers. The Emperor declares Wallenstein a traitor and replaces him by Piccolomini, who tricks Colonel Buttler, commander of the Dragoons, into deserting Wallenstein. Piccolomini’s son Max, commander of the Cuirassiers, and Wallenstein’s daughter Thekla fall in love, although her father intends her for a dynastic marriage. Max refuses to join his father, because he realises that he is motivated more by ambition than duty to the Emperor. When Wallenstein’s fall from grace becomes known several regiments change sides. The Cuirassiers, believing Max to be Wallenstein’s prisoner, march on his headquarters. Max’s duty lies with the Emperor: he leaves, and is later killed in battle. Wallenstein, meanwhile, is cut off at Eger; Buttler, Piccolomini’s henchman, convinces the garrison commander that Wallenstein must die and all his supporters are murdered. Piccolomini arrives with a message that Wallenstein is not to be killed, but it is too late.

Dramatic, Tragic