King Midas (Opera)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | King Midas |
| Shape: | Singspiel |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Wilhelm Kempff |
| Libretto : | Wilhelm Kempff |
| Literary source: | The judgment of Midas von Wieland |
| Premiere: | January 18, 1931 |
| Place of premiere: | Koenigsberg |
| Place and time of the action: | Phrygia, mythological time |
| people | |
King Midas is a “comic opera” in one act by Wilhelm Kempff . He also wrote the libretto himself. This is based on the text book for the Singspiel Das Reise des Midas , written by Christoph Martin Wieland in 1775 , which in turn varies Ovid's music competition between Pan and Apollo . The work was premiered on January 18, 1931 in Königsberg .
action
The opera is set in Phrygia at the time of classical antiquity.
The ugly shepherd god Pan and the well-formed god of light Apollo are in a heated argument. Each of them claim to be the better singer. Because everyone insists on their point of view, a referee is needed. Eventually they agree that King Midas should end the contest with his judgment. After the chants have died down, all listeners expect Midas to declare Apollon the victor. But to everyone's surprise, he decides in favor of Pan. Apollo is so angry about this that he avenges himself for the misjudgment of the king by growing two dog-ears for him.