The Bernauerin

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Data
Title: The Bernauerin
Original language: Bavarian
Author: Carl Orff
Music: Carl Orff
Premiere: June 8, 1947
Place of premiere: Stuttgart
Place and time of the action: Augsburg, Munich and Straubing in the thirties of the 15th century
people
  • "The Announcer"
  • Albrecht, Duke of Baiern and Count of Voheburg
  • Three young aristocrats, friends of Albrecht
  • Kaspar Bernauer, Bader in Augsburg
  • Agnes Bernauerin, Badmagd and Riberin, in the second part Duchessa
  • Bad guests at the old Bernauer
  • A Welsh minstrel ( tenor )
  • Citizen of Munich
  • Chancellor of Duke Ernst
  • Captain and sticks
  • Judges and detectors
  • A monk
  • A young servant
  • People, war people, witches ( chorus )

The Bernauerin is a Bavarian piece , at least that is how Carl Orff , who wrote not only the music but also the libretto, described his work. In a kind of “world theater” it deals with the most important stages in the life of the historical Agnes Bernauer in recent years . It premiered on June 8, 1947 in the Great House (today: Opera House) of the Württemberg State Theater in Stuttgart.

action

First part

Stage design for Die Bernauerin (Helmut Jürgens, Munich State Opera 1954)
Stage design for Die Bernauerin (Helmut Jürgens, Munich State Opera 1954)

Before the actual action begins, the announcer announces in an intrade what it is about:

“The game from the Bernauerin. The first part: About Albrechte, Duke in Baiern, and his passion for Agnes Bernauer, the "Bernauerin" - was one of Bader's daughter in Augsburg - itzo more than five hundred years ago, at the time when Baiern tore up the Bavarian country - due to unselge conflict - and was divided into three parts and Albrechten's father, Duke Ernst of Munichen ruled. "

Duke Albrecht is currently in Augsburg and pays a visit to Kaspar Bernauer's famous bathing room. He immediately falls in love with his pretty daughter Agnes. She, too, immediately feels drawn to him, although she is aware that the great difference in class actually stands in the way of a connection. Albrecht sees it differently, however. He secretly slips old Bernauer a bag of money so that he can talk to his daughter in order to dispel her doubts. The method works.

The couple retired to Voheburg Castle, which Duke Albrecht inherited from his mother. Meanwhile, the liaison between the sovereign and the Bader daughter is the talk of the town in Munich. Sometimes it is welcomed by the citizens, sometimes viewed as completely out of place.

Second part

As in the first part, the announcer appears before the start of the game and announces: “The game from the Bernauerin. The other part: Of Agnes Bernauerin, the 'Duchessa', of her love and loyalty and sad death, and how heaven turned everything around in the end. "

The ruling Duke Ernst was from the beginning a thorn in the side of his son's improper marriage. He therefore decides to get the hang of it and finally to eradicate the shame.

Albrecht says goodbye to his wife at Straubing Castle. When he's gone, Agnes is plagued by nightmares. She suspects something bad. Suddenly the judge and the police force their way into the castle. They want to force Agnes to sign a declaration that she is only Albrecht's sleepwife and wooer . But she proudly confronts the intruders and describes herself as Albrecht's lawful wife and Duchessa. But with this declaration she has signed her own death warrant. While she is being taken to the Danube as a prisoner, she has to endure wild curses and insults. Then she finds her grave in the river.

After Albrecht found out what happened, he angrily orders his war people to embark on a campaign of revenge with him. On the way riders meet him, led by his father's chancellor. This gives him the symbol of power, the ducal staff, which is wrapped in a mourning ribbon. Then Albrecht realizes that he has to take over his father's inheritance. As he sinks to his knees, the sky opens and in a vision he sees his wife with a crown and cloak. When this image disappears, the Bavarian piece also ends.

Background, style, music

Orff has undertaken intensive studies to get his play on stage in a language that he believed was spoken in Bavaria in the 15th century. This circumstance also makes it difficult for people outside of the southern German-speaking area to access the work. The only thing left for you to do is to enjoy the pictures of this Bavarian world theater and the music. The witch scene in the second part, in which the composer offers all of his percussion, is of great dramatic force. For the most part, however, the music only has an accompanying character. The choirs consist of spoken chants accompanied by very strong rhythmic ostinati.

filming

Radio play version

Web links