Don Cesar
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Don Cesar |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Rudolf Dellinger |
| Libretto : | Oscar Walther |
| Literary source: | Don César de Bazano by Philippe Dumanoir |
| Premiere: | March 28, 1885 |
| Place of premiere: | Hamburg |
| Place and time of the action: | Spain in the 19th century |
| people | |
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Don Cesar is an operetta in three acts by Rudolf Dellinger . Oscar Walther wrote the libretto. It is based on the comedy Don César de Bazano by Philippe Dumanoir . The work had its world premiere on March 28, 1885 in the Carl-Schultze-Theater in Hamburg .
action
place and time
The operetta is set in and near Madrid (Spain) at the time of its premiere, i.e. in the 1880s.
first act
The carnival bustle in Madrid always gives the king a welcome opportunity to mingle with the people in a mask and look for a beautiful girl. Today he loved the classy Maritana. Although she enjoys his vows of love, she makes it unmistakably clear to him that she would only give herself fully to him if she became his wife. The minister, loyal to the king, Fernandez, advises his master to marry the beautiful woman to a straw man, but to keep his identity a secret; then he can live out his lust undisturbed. As a tool he has chosen the impoverished Count Don Cesar, who has just returned from a long trip to his homeland. He feels honored to come to such a lovely woman so easily. While he is already looking forward to the wedding, he meets Pueblo, the queen's page, who is just about to serenade his beloved with a few friends. Don Cesar supports the singing friends with his powerful voice. As a result, however, the police are called on to act, and they arrested the young men for disturbing the night's sleep.
Second act
Because Don Cesar slightly injured an officer during his arrest, he was sentenced to death by an express court. Now he awaits his execution in the dungeon. Then he receives an unexpected visit from Minister Fernandez. He offers him a deal: If he were to marry an unknown woman immediately so that she could adorn herself with the title “Countess”, he would be spared death on the gallows. Instead, he would be shot with honor. Don Cesar agrees. After you have covered your face with a mask, the deeply veiled Maritana is led in. She believes that she is now married to the nobleman who yesterday swore his love for her. The couple has barely tied the knot when Maritana is taken away again.
Third act
Don Cesar survived his death sentence because Pueblo succeeded in replacing the bullets in the rifles with blank cartridges. Together they seek refuge in a small castle near Madrid, where Maritana has also been taken. Here Don Cesar meets the king's compliant minister again. He can't believe his eyes when he sees the supposedly dead man. When the latter asked him to be taken to his wife, Fernandez resorted to a ruse: he showed him the unsightly Donna Uranca, wife of the royal archivist. Under these circumstances, Don Cesar no longer wants to be married and fled again. In the meantime, Pueblo Maritana explains what a shameful game was played with her.
It doesn't take long before Don Cesar returns to the royal summer residence, where he runs straight into the king's arms. When the latter heard the story of the unfortunate count, he was overcome with remorse. He now personally ensures that the legally married couple can consummate the marriage. He even appoints the count as the new governor of Valencia.
annotation
Of Dellinger's seven operettas, Don Cesar was by far the most successful. In the first quarter of a century after its premiere alone, it went on stage around 1,350 times. The work comes up with numerous flattering melodies. The serenade Come down, o Madonna Teresa , turned out to be a real hit .
source
- Anton Würz : Reclam's operetta guide . 23rd edition. Reclam, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-15-010512-9 .