Amphitryon, Comic Opera in Three Acts (Six Tableaux) (score)

The comic opera Amphitryon by Boris Papandopulo (1906-1991), one of the greatest composers of the 20th century in Croatia, had an uncommon life history. After a very successful first performance at the Croatian National Theatre on February 17, 1940, plus a few more performances that followed on, the autograph, the original handwritten score of the opera simply vanished without trace. But after a long-lasting search, Davor Merkaš managed to find the missing opera. The Music Information Centre of the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, in agreement with the Zagreb Music Academy, the administration of which determined to put the work on the stage again in the Croatian National Theatre, prepared it for performance and on this occasion is publishing it as sheet music. The composer himself said of the opera: “The comic opera Amphitryon was composed in Split in 1936-37 in an extremely bright and fresh ambiance. This same ambiance, what with the generally difficult and critical conditions that were gathering on the horizon and becoming every day more serious, prompted and inspired me to write a work that might be able to cheer the audience up and make it laugh. I took then a witty libretto written after the Molière comedy of the same name for some certain reasons: to create a lively and comic music theatre work that the general public would easily be able to understand, following the action and course of events on the stage without hindrance. The actual music of Amphitryon was composed along the same lines. In essence it is clear, comprehensible, melodious, full of movement and in addition easily intelligible to listeners. In this work, as composer, I eschewed the solution of any kind of musical or any other problems… My modest intention was on the basis of a comical and pleasing libretto to create a music-theatre work full of gaiety and jollity, which will first of all be able to interest and amuse an audience for a whole night long, and on the other hand be capable of containing certain musical values and beauties. And precisely with respect to this difficult, critical and depressing situation that obtains in the whole of Europe, I thought it necessary to write the kind of work that would be capable for three hours of distracting spectators and listeners from the grave and gloomy thoughts that every day oppress and obsess us.” There is no doubt that the composer completely succeeded in his intention. The period of Croatian musical history between the wars is rich in exceptional creations in the area of the music theatre. In the string of brilliant works of Croatian operatic music, the comic opera Amphitryon will find its historical place. We hope that the rediscovery and publication of the opera Amphitryon will enable conductors, interpreters, musicologists, historians and all who are interested to to make the acquaintance of, to study and above all to perform this work of Papandopulo and encounter his lively, blithe and unique music, to which nobody can be indifferent.