The music enemy
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The music enemy |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Richard Genée |
| Libretto : | Richard Genée |
| Premiere: | February 8, 1862 |
| Place of premiere: | Grand Ducal Court Theater in Schwerin |
| Place and time of the action: | Hammer's country house, around 1860 |
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Der Musikfeind is an operetta by the composer Richard Genée , who was also responsible for the libretto . Its premiere saw this play on 8 February in 1862 on the Grand-Ducal Court Theater in Schwerin .
Despite the lovable and pleasing melodies, this play is considered very undemanding, especially because of the plot. That is why this work has long since disappeared from almost all stages, although it can definitely be counted among the classic Viennese operettas.
action
Mr. Hammer is wealthy and lives in the country. He lives in his large country house alone with his niece. A small apartment has just become vacant and he wants to rent it out again. Since he himself rejects music in any form and does not tolerate any in his presence, only a completely unmusical tenant comes into question.
Ida loves the composer Alfred Moll and advises him to recommend himself to his uncle as a music-hating tenant. Uncle Hammer was laughed at once while making music in his youth and has since renounced anything musical. To convince the uncle, the following plan is forged:
When the uncle returns from his daily walk, Moll introduces himself as the new tenant. By asking questions, Hammer gains the certainty that he is looking at an unmusical person and rents the apartment to him. Enthusiastic about his unmusical tenant, Hammer allows his niece to marry her beloved composer if he (the uncle) should ever renounce his hatred of music.
When Hammer leaves the house again, Ida teaches her lover a song that Hammer's mother used to sing to her son. When Hammer comes back, he recovers in the armchair and falls asleep. Now Ida and Alfred sneak into the room and softly sing this song to him. Hammer begins to sing along while half asleep. Caught, the uncle renounces his rejection of music and gives his blessing on the marriage of the two.
literature
- Otto Schneidereit: Operetta from Abraham to Zierer . Henschelverlag for Art and Society, Berlin 1966, pp. 105–110.