In 1822, the management of the Vienna Royal Opera House commissioned Franz Schubert to write an opera. Schubert chose a libretto by Joseph Kupelwieser that was based on sayings about Charlemagne, the king of the Franks, and the Moorish knight Fierrabras. But the management of the theater abandoned its decision to stage this opera by Schubert.
The composer never saw this opera staged; he wasn't even paid for his work. Seven years after his death, on May 7, 1835, the opera was presented at Vienna's Theater in der Josefstadt in a shortened concert version. In 1897, Austrian conductor and composer Felix Mottl staged his version of the opera at the Baden State Theater; he had added ballet parts from other works of Schubert and had also used some parts from works by other composers. The Mottl version was performed for a long time in opera houses. The authentic and full version of the opera was first presented at the Vienna State Opera in 1988 under the direction of conductor Claudio Abbado.
The nine beatitudes are considered to be the main commandments of the New Law and are not forcible. The nine beatitudes are deeply interconnected with each other and are gradual. The Kingdom of Heaven is a complete set of spiritual goods.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
With a pure heart, in heart's simplicity: these are used to indicate the breaking of an established order—moral rule, law, ethics, etc.—out of ignorance, without a second thought, acting heedlessly, without thinking of the consequences. Another aspect of this phrase can have some ironical context, meaning doing something foolishly, naively.
