Coming home from a foreign country
Work data | |
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Title: | Coming home from a foreign country |
Original title: | Coming home from a foreign country |
Shape: | Singspiel |
Original language: | German |
Music: | Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy |
Libretto : | Karl Klingemann |
Premiere: | December 26, 1829 |
Place of premiere: | Berlin |
Playing time: | about an hour |
Place and time of the action: | German village in the 18th century |
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The Homecoming from Foreign Countries ( MWV L 6 ) is a one-act Singspiel by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (op. 89). The composer himself described his work as a song game . Karl Klingemann wrote the libretto. The performance lasts approximately one hour.
General
It is an occasional work that the 20-year-old Mendelssohn composed for his parents' silver wedding. The premiere did not take place in any theater, but on December 26, 1829 in the garden hall of the Mendelsohn family estate in Berlin. The singers were members of the family. The vocal part that the composer had planned for the role of Schulz was problematic; because this should be embodied by his extremely unmusical brother-in-law. So he gave him only one note to sing, always the same (F). But he shouldn't always have met him either.
action
Place and time: a German village in the 18th century
When strangers were once again seen in the village trying to recruit young men for the army, the mayor's wife was stabbed in the heart. She remembers only too well how her own son Hermann decided to answer such a call six years ago. She has never heard from him since. Her foster daughter Lisbeth makes every effort to cheer her up, especially since her husband's 50th anniversary is just around the corner. But Lisbeth also lets herself be infected by the sadness of her foster mother, as she has fallen in love with Hermann over her ears and longs for his return home soon.
Suddenly Kauz, an extremely seedy figure, appears on the scene. He knows how to take advantage of every opportunity presented to him to get the best out of himself. Lisbeth thinks he is a recruiter, and he encourages her to believe. Of course, he too heard of the upcoming celebration, when the whole village is talking about it. He recommends Lisbeth to play the master of ceremonies at the party.
In the past, when Hermann and Lisbeth became lovers, Hermann often sang a song to his loved one that Lisbeth now believes he is hearing again, and indeed: the musician in front of the house is none other than Hermann! In the village he wanted to identify himself to his beloved first and not to his parents.
Kauz hears that the mayor's son has served in the Foreign Legion for many years . He senses the opportunity to take advantage of this circumstance by pretending to be Hermann at tomorrow's celebration. But if the plan is to succeed, he must first ensure that the musician who tries to get to Lisbeth disappears. He immediately goes to the mayor and warns him of an individual who is targeting his ward.
The night falls. Hermann prepares to perform a serenade for his Lisbeth. Suddenly Kauz appears, pretends to be a night watchman and wants to expel him from the village. But Hermann does not let himself be chased into the fenugreek so quickly. He rushes to the real night watchman, borrows a lantern, horn and spear from him, and now drives off owl.
The following morning, the villagers flock to the mayor's house. Kautz is also there and claims to be the returning son. Everyone is amazed that Hermann should have changed so much in six years. Fortunately, the real Hermann soon arrives and exposes the tramp as an impostor. The mayor and his wife are delighted that they have their son back with them. An engagement party will soon follow the anniversary celebration.
Sound carrier
- Hänssler Classic No. 098.487.000, recording of the concert from October 2003 with Juliane Banse , Iris Vermillion , Carsten Süß , Christian Gerhaher , Stefan Müller-Ruppert , the Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart and the Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart under the direction of Helmuth Rilling .
- First recording in 1977 with Hanna Schwarz , Helen Donath , Peter Schreier , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Benno Kusche , Bavarian Radio Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra under Heinz Wallberg (EMI)