Alfonso und Estrella (Alfonso and Estrella) is an opera with music by Franz Schubert, set to a German libretto
by Franz von Schober, written in 1822. Along with the later Fierrabras, composed in 1823, it marks Schubert's
attempt to compose grand Romantic opera in German, departing from the Singspiel tradition.
In close collaboration with von Schober in the region of St. Pölten, Schubert wrote the music for Alfonso und
Estrella between September 1821 and February 1822. Schober, only one year older than the young Schubert,
and a dabbler in literature, music and theatre, was enthusiastic about the collaboration.
Schubert and Schober shared an appreciation for the operatic theories of Ignaz von Mosel, a patron of Schubert's,
who supported Gluck's operatic ideals. This influence may have led to the omission of all spoken dialog,
parting from the German Singspiel form followed in operas such as Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Beethoven's Fidelio,
and Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz.
Schubert never heard the opera performed in his lifetime. Opera houses in Vienna, Berlin,
Dresden and Graz all had refused to stage it. The opera received its premiere performance
in Weimar on 24 June 1854, conducted by Franz Liszt.
There are two overtures associated with Rosamunde. The one actually played in the production was
originally written for Schubert's opera Alfonso und Estrella. The overture usually associated
with Rosamunde (though it apparently had nothing to do with it), is that to Die Zauberharfe (The Magic Harp),
presumably because that overture was originally published with the incidental music.
This overture is in C minor and major.
This performance by the Prague Sinfonia, conducted by Christian Benda.