The firework
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The firework |
| Shape: | Musical comedy |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Paul Burkhard |
| Libretto : | Erik Charell , Jürg Amstein and Robert Gilbert |
| Literary source: | Comedy De sächzigscht Giburtstag by Emil Sautter |
| Premiere: | May 16, 1950 |
| Place of premiere: | State Theater on Gärtnerplatz in Munich |
| Place and time of the action: | A royal seat around the 1920s |
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The fireworks is a musical comedy in three acts by Paul Burkhard . It is the High German version of the dialect work The Black Pike , which premiered in 1939 at the Zurich Theater. The libretto was written by Erik Charell , Jürg Amstein and Robert Gilbert . The comedy De sächzigscht Giburtstag by Emil Sautter served as a template . It premiered on May 16, 1950 in the State Theater on Gärtnerplatz in Munich . The work is intended for singing actors.
orchestra
A flute, an oboe, two clarinets, a bassoon, two horns, two trumpets, a trombone, a harp, a piano, strings. In order to be able to perform the work in smaller theaters, the composer has also produced a greatly reduced version for two pianos and percussion, although the latter can also be omitted.
action
The musical comedy takes place in the villa and garden of the factory owner Albert Oberholzer at the beginning of the 20th century. Manufacturer Oberholzer wants to celebrate his 60th birthday with his family (in some versions it is also the 50th). Preparations are in full swing. Anna, the daughter of the head of the family, is rehearsing a chanson specially written for the occasion with cook Kati. Aunt Berta and her husband Fritz arrive first. As soon as Anna and Kati have resumed their rehearsal, they are interrupted by the arrival of Aunt Paula with Uncle Gustav and Aunt Lisa with Uncle Heinrich.
After the greeting, Anna and Kati want to recite their birthday song; But there is another visitor: Oberholzer's brother Alexander, the black sheep of the family with his wife Iduna. Alexander has become director of a traveling circus and calls himself Obolski. He has much to tell. His wife Iduna describes the merits of her father, who is said to have been "a wonderful clown".
In a dream scene, Anna's aunts appear as big cats in a circus arena. The uncles make the audience laugh as clowns. Iduna rides a horse and Anna swings on the trapeze. Anna decides to go to the circus too. Robert can't believe his beloved's plan, but she can't be changed. The gentlemen of the party dance around Iduna and shower her with compliments.
Iduna confides in Anna that there are also many shadows lurking behind the splendor of the circus environment, so she longs for a permanent place to stay. Anna realizes that she wasn't made for the traveling guild after all. Her father is so happy that he is now blessing her for her engagement to Robert.
music
The “fireworks” was Paul Burkhard's most successful piece. The chanson “ O my Papa ” became particularly well known . With the English version “Oh! My Pa-Pa ” Eddie Fisher had a number one hit in the US in 1954 .
More songs were
- I have a cute little pony
- I like to say it through the flower
- In love for a lifetime
- The world is big and wide
The work, which was published under the generic name "Musical Comedy", is reminiscent of American musicals both in terms of subject and music and thus marks a departure from the traditional operetta in German-language entertainment theater of the 1950s.
filming
The successful director Kurt Hoffmann filmed the musical comedy in 1954 with Lilli Palmer , Romy Schneider , Karl Schönböck and Claus Biederstaedt in the leading roles. See fireworks (film) .
Web link
- The fireworks www.felix-bloch-orben.de (publisher for stage, film and radio)