The hedgehog as a groom
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The hedgehog as a groom |
| Shape: | Singspiel |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Cesar Bresgen |
| Libretto : | Ludwig Andersen and Cesar Bresgen |
| Literary source: | "Hans my hedgehog", fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm |
| Premiere: | November 13, 1951 |
| Place of premiere: | Nuremberg |
| Playing time: | approx. 1 ½ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | Fairy tale world, fairy tale time |
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The hedgehog as a bridegroom is an “opera for large and small people in five pictures” by Cesar Bresgen . The libretto was written by Ludwig Andersen under the pseudonym Ludwig Strecker the Younger and the composer Bresgen. It is based on motifs from the fairy tale " Hans mein Igel " by the Brothers Grimm . The work had its in Nuremberg on November 13, 1951 premiere . (This was preceded by a shorter fairy tale game, which was premiered in Esslingen in 1948 and expanded into an opera in the second version.)
Stage sets
Image 1: Fischerstube; Photo 2: swamp meadow; Image 3: Palace garden; Image 4: King's dining room; Photo 5: Room in the castle
action
In the framework story, an old man tells the tale of the hedgehog as a groom. Every now and then he is interrupted by Kasper, who comments on the story with funny comments.
The fisher woman's dearest wish is to have a child. One day their plea will be heard; but the son that is given to her turns out to be a human-sized hedgehog with a huge appetite. The fishermen soon realized that they didn't have enough money to feed their son. Therefore, they decide to release the hedgehog in a large swamp. Because your old goat has not been giving milk for a long time and is no longer of any use, it is allowed to keep the hedgehog company.
In truth, the hedgehog is - after all, we are in a fairy tale - an enchanted prince. The birds know this too. You and various forces of nature take care of him and would like to redeem him, but they do not succeed.
One day the king gets lost in the swamp. Of course the hedgehog will spot him. He now knows the swamp inside out. He offers the king his help and leads him to safe ground. A few minutes ago the king still believed that the last hour had struck. Now that he's saved, he is very grateful to the hedgehog. He invites him to come to his castle and take one of his three daughters in marriage.
When the king has reached his castle again, he is close to repenting the promise he made to the hedgehog. Nightmares plague him at night. Yet he does not want to break his word; after all, the hedgehog saved his life. The next day, this seeks entry into the palace. He is greeted with joy. When the three princesses are introduced to him, he chooses the youngest of them without thinking twice. But when Goldherz - that's the name of the chosen one - realizes that she should marry the prickly lifesaver, she starts to feel a little queasy. But because she does not want to refuse her father's wish, she declares that she is ready to marry the spiny animal. At that moment the spell is gone from the hedgehog. His prickly shell falls off and he turns into a beautiful youth. The opera ends with a happy wedding party.
music
The orchestral line-up is minimal: there is one for six instruments and an extended one for eight wind instruments with a string quintet. Ideally, all roles except the old man are filled with children. The opera also requires a children's choir whose voices are easy to perform.