Clivia (operetta)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Clivia |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Nico Dostal |
| Libretto : | Charles Amberg |
| Premiere: | December 23, 1933 |
| Place of premiere: | Berlin |
| Place and time of the action: | Fictional state in South America around 1930 |
| people | |
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Clivia is an operetta in three acts by Nico Dostal . It is considered his most successful stage work. The libretto was written by Charles Amberg . It premiered on December 23, 1933 at the Berlin Theater on Nollendorfplatz .
orchestra
Two flutes, an oboe, two horns, two trumpets, two trombones, a harp, a piano, a celesta, percussion and strings
action
The operetta is set in Boliguay, a fictional republic in South America, at the time when the operetta was premiered, i.e. in the 1930s.
first act
Image: Estancia in the mountains
The American EW Patterton is an influential financial tycoon with shady business ties to the Republic of Boliguay. The fact that a revolution has just taken place there, in which General Juan Olivero was proclaimed president, thwarted his plans. But Patterton wouldn't be Patterton if he had no way out. After all, everything can be managed with money. So he set up a film company without further ado. With the crew, which also includes the well-known actress Clivia Gray, he sets off for Boliguay, allegedly only with the intention of making a film there; but the border guards refuse the team entry because foreigners cannot get a work permit.
Caudillo, the owner of the estancia where the film team is stopping off, knows what to do: a lady from the crew should just pretend to marry a Boliguayan citizen, then she would get Boliguayan citizenship and be allowed to enter the country with the entire film team. Because Clivia is a desirable young beauty, Patterton immediately chooses her as a victim. She suspects that Patterton is not pursuing noble goals, but on the other hand, she is excited about the plan. All that remains is to find a Boliguayer willing to marry. The Chicago Times reporter accompanying the team is tasked with finding a suitable candidate. It doesn't take long before he arrives with gaucho Juan Damigo. He refuses the money offered to him, but at the sight of Clivia's beauty he quickly declares himself ready to marry.
Second act
Image: hotel room
The film team has now been allowed to travel to Boliguay and is staying in the capital's most elegant hotel. In order to prepare the coup against the government, Patterton invited all kinds of opposition politicians and other influential people. As a camouflage he organized a party in the hotel room. Little does Patterton suspect that the secret service of his host country has long since caught on to his guests and that a few undercover agents have infiltrated his guests.
Even if Clivia and Juan Damigo only appear to have married, they are still getting closer and closer, in fact, they even fall in love. As the festival approaches its climax, the trap snaps shut. The film team is arrested and put behind bars. Now the unsuspecting also find out who the gaucho Juan Damigo really is: Olivero, the incumbent President of the Republic!
Third act
Image: Conference room in the Presidential Palace
Olivero cannot concentrate on state affairs because Clivia is still haunting his mind. After everything that has happened, he doubts her love. On the other hand, he is also not sure whether Clivia von Patterton was only used as a pawn for his crazy plan. Then the reporter Lelio Down, who has meanwhile fallen in love with Olivero's cousin Yola, comes to his aid with a saving idea: he should simply make sure that Clivia and Patterton can escape. Depending on how the woman behaves, he knows whether she is serious about her love for him.
Lelio Down's proposal is carried out. Patterton knows that his coup plans have failed completely. He gives up and is able to flee across the border. Clivia, on the other hand, goes to the President and publicly announces that she was more or less forced by Patterton to enter into the bogus marriage. But now she wants to turn the sham marriage into a real marriage. Now Olivero knows that Clivia truly loves him. The operetta ends with cheers from the people for its President and the future First Lady.
music
Numerous South American rhythms give the work an exotic character. But there are also emotionally flattering melodies that are not neglected. The musical highlight is Clivia's song I'm in love . The following numbers should also be highlighted:
- Today one speaks only of Clivia ,
- I do not feel entirely at ease before this adventure ,
- With you I want to walk through life ,
- You are me so sympathetic ,
- Wonderful as ever was a miracle and
- You have to travel from time to time .
Sound carrier
- Operetta cross section on CD at Eurodisc with Margit Schramm, Rudolf Schock and the Berliner Symphoniker (recording from 1971)
- Operetta cross section on LP with Renate Holm, Peter Minich, Friedel Blasius and the Kölner Rundfunkorchester under the direction of Franz Marszalek (recording from 1979)
filming
The Czech director Karl Anton filmed the operetta in 1954 based on a script that he himself wrote together with Ernst Nebhut . The main roles were played by Claude Farell , Peter Pasetti , Hans Richter , Paul Dahlke and Herta Staal . The lexicon of international films came to the following conclusion: A film adaptation of the operetta by Nico Dostal with a few pleasant melodies, sparse charm and limited entertainment value.