Plot

The folk legend about the Bridge of Arta forms the core of the plot. Despite the gloomy predictions made by the builders and villagers, the bridge is completed, and the Master Builder is sure it will not collapse. When the Noble asks him what reward he would like, he seeks permission to build a house in the centre of the village and to marry his beloved.

At the same moment a young woman arrives with news that the bridge is about to collapse. A wise prophetess called the old Mother then appears and announces that the bridge will not stand unless the Master Builder's lover is sacrifice. She does not, however, reveal the woman's name, since if the magic is to work, the Master Builder and his lover must confess of their own accord. Unaware that the woman in question is his daughter Smaragda, the Noble swears to hand her over in person.

The Master Builder remains silent; as night approaches, the builders decide to sacrifice him. Smaragda then confesses that she is the lover, and descends into the bridge's foundations of her own accord.

Writing history

Written in Paris in 1908-1909, under the initial title The Sacrifice. In 1910 Kazantzakis submitted it to the Lassanis drama competition and won the 1000 drachma prize. The tragedy is dedicated to "Ida" [Ion Dragoumis].

Greek editions

  • Petros Psiloritis [=N. Kazantzakis], O Protomastoras. Tragodia, Panathinia 20 (15-30.6.1910) 131-144.
  • Petros Psiloritis [= N. Kazantzakis], O Protomastoras. Tragodia. Athens: Panathinia magazine publications, 1910

Foreign editions - translations

  • N. Kazantzakis, O Protomastoras - Le maître-maçon, translated into French by Dimitri Filias, relecture Renée Jacquin, A Die (bilingual edition)

Performances & adaptations

  • Greek Musical Troupe, Athens Municipal Theatre 1916. Opera adaptation by Manolis Kalomiris. Libretto by Manolis Kalomiris, with the assistance of Myrtiotissa, N. Poriotis and N. Stefopoulos. Conducted by A. Kontaratos. Several performances took place over the following years: 1930, 1943 (interpreted by M. Kaloyeropoulou, later Maria Callas), 1944, 1948, 1951, 1983.
  • Argos Municipal Theatre, directed by Elpida Braoudaki, 1996 (first prose performance)
  • The "Diktyo Technon" Troupe, produced by G. Papatheodorou, music by N. Pitlogolou, Athens 2004. Cast: A. Martzoukos, M. Halvatzis, L. Asimakopoulou.

Music

  • Manolis Kalomiris, O Protomastoras. A musical tragedy in three parts and intermedio. Adapted from the tragedy by Petros Psiloritis. Edited by N. Poriotis, Athens: "Ta Erga" publications 1916
  • Manolis Kalomiris, O Protomastoras. A musical tragedy in three parts and intermedio. Adapted from the tragedy by Petros Psiloritis. Athens 1917 (includes a libretto in Greek, with an Italian translation by V. Vecchiarelli)
  • Manolis Kalomiris, O Protomastoras. A musical tragedy in two parts and intermedio. Adapted from the tragedy by Nikos Kazantzakis. Athens: K. Kalonarchis 1930
  • Manolis Kalomiris, Protomastoras. A musical tragedy in two parts and intermedio. Adapted from the tragedy by Nikos Kazantzakis. Athens: Gaitanos 1939

Radio broadcasts

  • Manolis Kalomiris, The Master Builder, radio broadcast by Australian National Radio, November 2004. Musical adaptation and direction by Konstantinos Koukias. Co-produced and edited by Alfred Vincent.