Barbara von Tisenhusen
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Barbara von Tisenhusen |
| Original language: | Estonian |
| Music: | Eduard Tubin |
| Libretto : | Jaan Kross |
| Literary source: | The novel of the same name by Aino Kallas |
| Premiere: | 4th December 1969 |
| Place of premiere: | Estonia Opera House , Tallinn |
| Playing time: | about 2 hours |
| people | |
|
|
Barbara von Tisenhusen is an opera in three acts and nine pictures by the Estonian composer Eduard Tubin . The libretto comes from Jaan Kross based on the Finnish-language novella of the same name by Aino Kallas from 1923.
idea
In 1967 the producer of the Tallinn Estonia theater and opera house , Arne Mikk, brought the idea of the opera to Eduard Tubin. Tubin had emigrated to Sweden before the occupation of Estonia by the Red Army , but still enjoyed a high reputation as a composer in Estonia.
Tubin wrote the opera in a short time, which was completed in June 1968. In the wake of the political thaw, he and his wife were allowed to attend the premiere in Tallinn, which was cheered by the audience. Udo Väljaots directed the premiere and Kirill Raudsepp conducted it .
Historical background
The tragic story of Barbara von Tisenhusen has a historical background. It goes back to the tradition of the Baltic chronicler Balthasar Rüssow from the year 1578: Because of an improper connection between the noble Barbara and a civil clerk, the noblewoman was drowned by her brothers in an ice hole.
The material has inspired numerous Estonian writers, including Marie Under for one of her most famous ballads . The Finnish-Estonian writer Aino Kallas wrote a largely fictitious novella around the historical core in 1923, which appeared in Estonian translation just one year later. Jaan Kross has reworked the novella for the libretto for Tubin's opera music.
action
Barbara von Tisenhusen was born in 1533 at Randen Castle in Livonia . After the death of her respected father Reinhold von Tisenhusen and her mother Anna von Sawhere, she grew up as an orphan with her rich, aristocratic aunt. Wealth and abundance shape their lives. When Barbara turns seventeen, the aunt starts looking for a bride. Four court tailors work for three months on her dress, the splendor of which with gold embroidery , precious stones and pearls is supposed to impress the wealthy suitors. When Barbara appeared at a wedding in Tallinn in 1551, everyone was impressed by her elegance. During a walk, however, she meets a beggar who reproaches her: a thousand people could have received clothes for the expenses of her robe.
The words of the beggar and the confrontation with the poverty of the common people made Barbara thoughtful. For the first time in her life, she questions her wealth. She has lost her splendid dress. Barbara decides to change her life. In the countryside, she wants to teach the farmers' children to read and write.
After a while, a new clerk takes up his duties at the castle of her stepparents in the Livonian wrestling . A close relationship quickly develops between Barbara and the likable young Franz Bonnius from Braunschweig , which becomes love.
The second act begins with a festival in which a bear has to fight raging dogs for the amusement of those invited. Barbara protests against this cruel game. The sensitive and human Barbara wins the heart of the writer Bonnius, who finally begs her to marry him. Barbara speaks this from the heart. She agrees.
But the improper connection violates the law of the time without the consent of the noble family. The Barbaras brothers in particular disapprove of the liaison with the bourgeois Bonnius. Barbara and Franz decide to flee together. The aunt, who fears a bad end, tries to stop the brothers from persecuting them. But the brothers feel their family honor has been hurt and want to take revenge. They finally find Barbara during a large-scale search operation, while Franz escapes.
The relatives hold judgment over Barbara in the fortress of Rannu. Despite the vicious hostility, Barbara stands before her fiancé in court: God himself in heaven married the two lovers. A priest tries to avert the threatened sentence, but the relatives regard Barbara's words as a renewed desecration of the family honor. Your fate is sealed.
In the winter of 1553 the brothers took Barbara to the frozen lake Võrtsjärv . The farmers present, who have pity on Barbara, who stands by her love, refuse to obey the brothers. They now have to carry out the planned execution themselves. You push Barbara into an ice hole. Barbara goes to her death with her head held high. From the brothers' point of view, the deed has restored family honor, but the killing of Barbara brought no luck to anyone: Barbara's aunt died in poverty, Barbara's brother Jürgen passed away in Finland without having fathered a male offspring.
effect
Eduard Tubin's first opera became one of the most famous and most acclaimed operas in Estonian musical history. Not only Tubin's music, but also the tragic love story and strong social criticism captivated the audience. The criticism of the Baltic German aristocracy, the class differences and the feudalist conditions of the 16th century in Estonia and Livonia also suited the communist censorship authorities in Estonia, which therefore did not put any obstacles in the way of the success of the most exiled Tubin.
Web links
- Summary of the plot (PDF; 1.08 MB; German)
- Description and audio samples
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=142116
- ↑ Mart Humal: Barbara von Tisenhusen: Opera and libretto on schoenberg.ee (English), accessed on April 4, 2018.