About the work
“Artus – Excalibur” is a musical by the American composer Frank Wildhorn based on the Arthurian legend, with a book by Ivan Menchell and lyrics by Robin Lerner; the German version is by Nina Schneider. It premiered on 15 March 2014 at Theater St. Gallen, directed by Francesca Zambello, with Patrick Stanke as Arthur, Thomas Borchert as Merlin and Sabrina Weckerlin as Morgana. The score combines pop and orchestral sound with influences from Celtic and Irish folk music.
Plot
Young Arthur draws the sword Excalibur from the stone and, after initial hesitation, accepts the crown; Merlin guides him as his mentor, and the Round Table gathers at Camelot. Arthur falls in love with Guinevere, but after her abduction a secret love develops between her and the knight Lancelot. Meanwhile Arthur’s half-sister Morgana uses dark magic against him. In the battle against King Loth, Lancelot falls at the king’s side, and Guinevere saves Arthur from Morgana, so that the couple are reconciled at the end.
Cultural significance
At the premiere, critics praised above all the music, design and cast but found the book moved too quickly. The musical was staged in Germany (Freilichtspiele Tecklenburg) and Austria (Felsenbühne Staatz) in 2016 and opened in Seoul in 2019 and in Tokyo with the Takarazuka Revue in 2023.