The third wish
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The third wish |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Nico Dostal |
| Libretto : | Hans Adler |
| Literary source: | Fairy tale about the fisherman and his wife |
| Premiere: | February 20, 1954 |
| Place of premiere: | Nuremberg |
| Place and time of the action: | Location on a lake around 1790 |
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The third wish is “A magic piece with music in eight pictures” - that's the original name - from Nico Dostal , who is close to the operetta. Hans Adler wrote the libretto . It is based on motifs from Grimm's fairy tale Vom Fischer and his wife . The work had its world premiere on February 20, 1954 at the Nuremberg Opera House .
orchestra
The orchestra consists of two flutes, an oboe, two clarinets, a bassoon, two horns, two trumpets, two trombones, a harp, a piano, a large percussion and strings.
Stage sets
Photo 1: In front of Camillos Fischerhütte, Photo 2: Street with market, Photo 3: Mayor's office, Photo 4: Street with market, Photo 5: Meeting room in the town hall, Photo 6: In the Landgrave's castle, Photo 7: Nocturnal landscape, Photo 8: In front of Camillo's fishing hut
action
The operetta is set in a market town by a lake in a small county immediately outside the empire towards the end of the 18th century.
Fate has not exactly blessed the fisherman Camillo with luck. If, after the day's struggle, there is a catch in his nets, then it consists only of small fish. It is hardly surprising that he and his wife Melinde only have a meager life. Melinde often takes refuge in a dream world. She would love to see herself as a noble lady in rich circles, but the dear money is just not enough back and forth. In addition, she is heavily indebted to the merchant widow Brigitte. When she wants to demand her money, the poor get into trouble. In her distress, she ties up the greasy Junker Flox and tries to lure some money out of him. As she is trying to ensnare him violently, she is caught red-handed by her husband. But he hardly blames her, but reports excitedly that something miraculous has happened to him: a mermaid got caught in his nets. In response to his declaration that he was giving her freedom, she gave him a ring and promised that three wishes would be granted to him as soon as he turned it on his finger and expressed the wish out loud.
Camillo receives a visit from a high authority, not to do him an honor, but to collect the demand from the dealer Brigitte. The good man is so desperate that he turns his ring as if in a trance and shouts out loud that he wants to be mayor. As soon as he has expressed the wish, it is already fulfilled. Camillo is the new mayor of the village! Unfortunately, however, he lacks the gift of properly performing his office. The citizens soon realize that their new town hall chief is a failure. When the daughter of the deposed mayor accuses him of being the father of her illegitimate child, Camillo can no longer hold his position. He turns the ring again and wishes to become a Landgrave. This request will also be fulfilled immediately!
Was Camillo already not in a position to master the fortunes of the village as mayor, how is he supposed to be able to fill an even higher office? No, everything grows over his head! His salary is used up quickly. The noble "friends" let him down. It is true that the saying goes that when need is greatest, salvation is closest; but this does not apply to Camillo! One stroke of fate chases the other. To make matters worse, the emperor now orders him to go to war with him. That was just missing! After all, he doesn't understand anything about this craft. But he still has a third wish. He is already starting to turn the ring again when his wife yells at him that he should just not think of becoming emperor now. She'd rather go back to the poor fisherman's hut.
The third wish has also been fulfilled. Camillo walks along the shore of the lake and finds the mermaid from whom he once received the magic ring. He gives it back and thanks her. When he goes out on the lake again in his boat and casts his nets, he is rewarded with a rich catch. So the third wish helped the couple to be happy.