DomStufen-Festspiele in Erfurt 2003
In the citadel of a city long under siege, hopelessness and despair prevail. The starving population sends a delegation demanding surrender. However, the commander has just received a letter from the Emperor urging him to hold out. He promises to make a decision soon, while secretly preparing to blow up the citadel rather than let it fall into enemy hands.
He gives his soldiers a choice: save themselves or follow him into death. Maria, his wife, learns of his plan and decides to share his fate. Just as the commander is about to give the order to ignite the explosives, cannon fire rings out—and with the sound of church bells, news reaches the besieged: the Thirty Years’ War has ended.
At first, the commander suspects a ruse and threatens the opposing general, who approaches him with peaceful intentions. It is only through his wife’s plea that he is able to overcome his hatred and place his trust in peace. A hymn-like chorus exalts the long-awaited day of peace.
Premiere / July 5, 2003
Cast
Commander Juan Carlos Mera-Euler, Károly Szilágyi | Maria Helen Bickers, Kelly God | Sergeant Florian Plock | Private Thomas Stückemann | Constable Peter Dittmann | Musketeer Manuel Meyer | Horn player Thomas Briesemeister | Officer Christoph Pohl | Frontline officer Máté Sólyom-Nagy | Piedmontese Erik Fenton | Holsteiner Albert Pesendorfer | Mayor Udo Scheuerpflug | Prelate Alexander Schmidt | Woman from the People Rosamund Cole | Friede Peter Schulte-Overbeck