Improvisator, The
Eugen d'Albert (trans. Mark Hindsley)
Subtitle: Overture
General Info
Year: 1902 / 1953 / 1978
Duration: c. 4:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Hindsley Transcriptions
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $76.00 | Score Only (print) - $18.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo (2 players)
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Snare Drum
- Tambourine
- Triangle
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
D'Albert's historic-romantic three-act opera Der Improvisator, received its premiere performance in Berlin on 26 February 1902.
Set in 1540, Padua is groaning under the yoke of the foreign rule of the Venetians. The pressure on the doge, who has been installed by Venice, is growing. Malepieri, the ‘tyrant of Padua and slave of Venice’, senses that he is in danger of becoming a victim of his own system which is controlled by spies and denouncers.
When troubles arise during the carnival festivities, he orders the arrest of Cassio Belloni, a popular singer famous for his art of improvisation, whom he suspects to be the instigator of a conspiracy. In fact, however, Cassio is the son of the rightful doge of Padua and has returned from exile. Secretly he has been preparing the recapture of the city. In prison, two fellow prisoners, who turn out to be Venetian spies, tell him that the ‘Council of Ten’ in Venice has already sentenced Malepieri to death. Cassio is released through the petition of mercy submitted by Silvia, the doge’s daughter. When, shortly after, the rebellion against the Venetian occupiers breaks out, he manages to protect Malepieri and Silvia from the Venetian catchpoles and the people of Padua who are crying for revenge. He shows mercy and, having become the new doge of Padua, marries Silvia amidst the rejoicing of the people.
- Program Note from Boosey & Hawkes
Media
State Ratings
- Arkansas: V
- Florida: V
- Georgia: VI
- North Carolina: VI
- South Carolina: V
- Tennessee: V
- Virginia: V
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Elmhurst (Ill.) University Wind Ensemble (James Hile, conductor) - 17 October 2021
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Allemande Suite (arr. Reimbold) (1930)
- Cupid and Butterfly ( arr. Laurendeau)
- The Improvisator (arr. Hindsley) (1902/1953/1978)
- Tiefland: Intermezzo (arr. Adolf Becker)
Resources
- D'Albert, E.; Hindsley, M. (1978). The Improvisator : Overture to the Opera "Der Improvisator"
- "Der Improvisator (The Improviser) (1898-1901)." Boosey & Hawkes. Web. Accessed 16 October 2021
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Eugen Frances d'Albert." Accessed 16 October 2021