Fierrabras (opera)

Rossini's operas were so popular that Euryanthe unsuccessfully premiered in October 1823, resulting in the shelving of plans to stage Fierrabras, and the resignation of Joseph Kupelwieser as director of the theatre, complaining of "arrogance" on the part of Barbaja.

Kupelwieser had likely drawn his inspiration from German publications of the tales of Charlemagne, including an 1806 translation La puente de Mantible [es] by Calderón.

Kupelwieser, who did not have great experience at libretto-writing,[1] submitted the completed libretto to the censors on July 21, 1823, and it was approved on August 19 with minor changes, well after Schubert had started work on the music.

[3] Since Kupelwieser, as director of the Kärntnertor Theater, had experience dealing with Prince Metternich's censors, he appears to have engaged in self-censorship to avoid difficulties with the libretto.

The manuscripts for this work show the following dates: As the libretto was not approved by the censors until August 1823, Schubert was required to make some small changes to already-composed material.

[5] On May 7, 1835 (seven years after Schubert's death), at the Theater in der Josefstadt, Vienna, a concert version of several numbers was staged.

[6] Its first full performance was not until 1897, despite "much magnificent music in Schubert’s score",[7] when it was given at the Hoftheater Karlsruhe under the direction of Felix Mottl.

Karl's knights, led by Roland, have defeated the Moors and captured Fierrabras, the son of the Moorish prince Boland.

Eginhard (without clarifying the matter concerning Emma and Fierrabras) has been sent to Boland with Roland and Karl's other knights for peace talks.

The Moors surprise Eginhard, capture him, and bring him to the Moorish castle, where Boland and his daughter Florinda are concerned over Fierrabras' fate.