King Harald's Saga

Based on the ‘Heimskringla’ saga by Snorri Sturluson, King Harald’s Saga tells the story of the 1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge, during the Norwegian Invasion of England.

Earl Tostig, from England, betrays his country and persuades King Harald of Norway to invade. In a dream, Harald received a message from his dead brother, St Olaf, warning him not to go to England. King Harald is not afraid, and leads his ships into battle. When they arrive at Stamford Bridge, the English army is awaiting them and thousands of Norwegian soldiers are killed. King Harald lies amongst the dead.

Judith Weir’s short opera King Harald’s Saga comprises three acts, in which eight characters, a chorus, and a narrator, are all played by one singer, who performs unaccompanied.

Act One

• Spoken Introduction
• Aria ‘I, Harald, by the grace of almighty God’ - Harald
• Fanfare - Harald
• Aria ‘Hail, Take, Kill’ - Tostig

Act 2

• Spoken Introduction
• Aria: ‘Sleep Harald sleep on’ - St Olaf
• Aria: ‘Put out to sea’ - Harald
• Duet: ‘Farewell, farewell’ - Elizabeth, Thora

Act 3

• Spoken Introduction
• Chorus: ‘We gladly leave for Harald’ - The Norwegian Army
• Recitative: ‘O Sit! O Harald’ - Messenger
• Aria: ‘Side by side the armies fought’ - Soldier

Epilogue

• Spoken Introduction
• Recitative ‘I have seen this all before’ - Icelandic Sage