The cow's own
| Work data | |
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| Title: | The cow's own |
| Shape: | Opera |
| Music: | Wilhelm Kienzl |
| Libretto : | Richard Batka |
| Premiere: | 1911 |
| Place of premiere: | Vienna |
| Place and time of the action: | Paris and Versailles between 1792 and 1793 |
| people | |
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Der Kuhreigen is a musical play in three acts by the composer Wilhelm Kienzl (op. 85). The libretto wrote Richard Batka freely based on the novella "The Little Blanche Fleur" by Rudolf Hans Bartsch . This play had its first performance under the direction of Rainer Simons on November 23, 1911 in the Vienna Volksoper .
action
- Act 1 - St. Honoré barracks in Paris
The Swiss Guard exercises under the supervision of Sergeant Dursel. During the break that followed, the French sergeant Favart sings happy songs to his comrades while they eat and drink in silence. Favart then explains to his French comrades why the Swiss Guard no longer sings. In the past it happened again and again that Swiss soldiers fell ill with incurable homesickness when they heard or sang songs from home, especially the “Song of Cow Ownership”. That is why it is forbidden to sing the “Song of the Cow's Own”, even with the death penalty, and that is why the Swiss Guard no longer sings out of defiance.
NCOs Dursel and Favart get into an argument about the waitress Doris. Primus Thaller tries to settle the dispute and reproaches his compatriot for being so angry about it. In Thaller's opinion, very few women are worth getting confused about their feelings. At that moment, their commanding officer, Marquis Massimelle, comes through the camp with his wife Blanchefleur. When Thaller sees Blanchefleur, he immediately falls in love with her and begins to sing the "song of the cow's own". His comrades are amazed, but then begin, first quietly and individually, but then all together, to sing aloud their song from home.
The spirit of the French Revolution has already reached the army, only the Swiss Guard are loyal to the royal family. In order to make an example, Favart notifies his officer on watch, and Thaller, who voluntarily reveals himself to be the guilty instigator, is arrested and taken away.
- Act 2 - The bedchamber of Louis XVI. in Versailles
When the daily court ceremony is over, the Marquis Massimelle submits Primus Thaller's death sentence to his king. But since he saved Blanchefleur from great danger some time ago, the king grants her the right to a pardon. She is excited because she can finally show her gratitude to her savior of yore. The commandant Massimelle orders Thaller to the palace in Versailles.
During a discussion between Blanchefleur and Thaller, he learns that the marquise would not be averse to an affair with him. But Thaller wants to marry Blanchefleur, and since this is impossible, he returns to his comrades.
- Act 3 - dining room in the Palais de Massimelle
Favart and some of his comrades have joined the insurgents. Under his leadership, the sans-culottes invaded the commandant's palace. During the search they find Blanchefleur and arrest her. Primus Thaller, meanwhile appointed captain, is too late to save her. Then he learns that Marquis Massimelle has already been guillotined as a nobleman and that Blanchefleur's heart is free. He is immediately looking for his best men to free his mistress from the revolutionary prison.
- Transformation - basement of the Temple
All the prisoners who were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Tribunal are waiting here. Here you stand up to your fate and dance one last time and let it go as far as possible. Names are regularly called and people are picked up for the guillotine. With the support of his men, Primus Thaller manages to get to Blanchefleur. He informs her that she is now a widow and proposes marriage to her. She is touched, but cannot overcome the class differences and refuses. The two of them dance a minuet to say goodbye when Blanchefleur's name is called. She says goodbye to him and Thaller remains crying. When one of the royalists exclaims "Mesdames, Messieurs, the dance goes on ..." the curtain falls.
See also
literature
- Wilhelm Kienzl: The cow's own. Musical drama in three acts . Weinberger, Leipzig 1919
- Leo Melitz: Guide through the operas . Globus-Verlag, Berlin 1914, pp. 155–157.