The magic violin (operetta)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The magic violin |
| Original title: | Le violoneux |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | French |
| Music: | Jacques Offenbach |
| Libretto : | Eugène Mestépès, Antoine Chevalet |
| Premiere: | August 31, 1855 |
| Place of premiere: | Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens , Paris |
| Place and time of the action: | Village in southern Germany |
| people | |
The Magic Violin is an operetta in one act by the composer Jacques Offenbach ; for the libretto recorded Antoine Chevalet and Eugène Mestépès responsible. The premiere of this play took place on August 31, 1855 at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris .
action
The setting is a typical village square in a small village in southern Germany.
Peter is supposed to join the military, and his only chance to avoid it would be to name a deputy. But that costs 500 guilders, which his rich and stingy uncle does not want to give away. When Peter told Rose about his need, she advised him to ask her guardian, the village violinist Martin. But Peter doesn't dare to do that because he thinks he's a magician because of his violin skills.
The last resort that Peter has left would be to marry Rose. When Rose told this to her guardian, the latter pointed out that in the worst case scenario, Rose would have to follow her Peter into the war as a sutler . Martin will shortly have an engagement at the castle for the wedding of the gracious lady. He wants to use this to pray for his ward and their bridegroom.
Rose sits alone in the room and pensively looks at the instrument. Since this violin alone ensures her livelihood and that of her guardian, she kisses the violin in spontaneous gratitude. At that moment Peter joins them, superstitiously snatches the violin from her and smashes it. When Martin returns a little later without hope, he finds a letter in the rubble of his violin while cleaning up. It is the lost will of his late brother and father von Rose, who bequeathed 5000 guilders to his daughter. So Peter can buy his way out of the soldiers and marry Rose.
Recordings
In German language:
- Gunther Ambrosius , Maria Madlen Madsen , Franz Fehringer , Frankfurter Rundfunk-Symphonie-Orchester, 1950
In French:
- Christophe Mortagne, Marie Modeste, Gilles Butin, 1981
literature
- Leo Melitz: Guide through the operettas . Globus-Verlag, Berlin 1927, p. 238.