Manina (operetta)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Manina |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Nico Dostal |
| Libretto : | Hans Adler and Alexander Lix |
| Premiere: | November 28, 1942 |
| Place of premiere: | Berlin |
| Place and time of the action: | Southern Germany and the fictional Balkan kingdom around 1900 |
| people | |
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Manina is an operetta in four pictures by Nico Dostal . The libretto is by Hans Adler and Alexander Lix . It premiered on November 28, 1942 in the Admiralspalast in Berlin. There is also a new version of the operetta from 1956; but the following article is about the original version.
orchestra
Two flutes, two oboes, three clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, a bass tuba, a harp, two mandolins, large percussion and strings
Stage sets
Image 1: An empire salon in southern Germany; Photo 2: Balkan style living room; Image 3: Romantic main square in the residential city; Photo 4: Garden terrace with pergola by the sea
action
The operetta is set in southern Germany and in the fictional kingdom of Catatea in the Balkans around 1900.
At the request of her aunt, Countess Amelie Wenderott-Peutingen, Countess Hella von Liechtenau got engaged to the king of the Balkan state Catatea. A delegation from her bridegroom picked her up in her southern German homeland. Soon, a splendid wedding is to be celebrated in Catatea. Hella is received with joy; but her future husband seems to have been swallowed up by the earth.
The young woman seized the opportunity to pay a visit to the poet Mario Zantis, whom she admired so much. She has read almost all of his works - most of all she values his poem about the fisher girl Manina, who later becomes queen - and has long wanted to get to know the poet personally. Hella introduces herself to the poet as "Manina" and hides from him the reason that brought her to Catatea. Both are equally likeable. Hella learns from the poet that the king often retires to his summer residence with his lover, the singer Fiametta. This was the case again today. Fiametta had told him herself, also that she had locked him in out of jealousy. Little by little there is a spark between the two and the sympathy turns into love. Hella stays with Mario all night.
As soon as Hella left Mario's house the next morning, the poet was arrested. He learns from the police that the chansonette Fiametta performed a song of derision for the king in a nightclub and that he, Mario Zantis, was the author. The king heard of this, whereupon he ordered Mario to be banished from Catatea for life.
The dream wedding between Hella and the king still comes about. But happiness lasts only a short time; for the king continues to deceive his wife with his mistress. Although Hella gives life to an heir to the throne nine months after the wedding, her marriage cannot be saved. Divorce follows. The king abdicates so that he can devote himself only to his beloved. Now Hella is the sole ruler of Catatea.
When Mario found out in his exile what had happened in his home country, he returned to Catatea. He only has the wish to find "Manina", who has not disappeared from his thoughts since that memorable night. When looking for her, he realizes that “his” Manina and the reigning queen are one and the same person. A few more twists and turns follow, but in the end it comes to a happy ending. It turns out that Mario is the real father of the heir to the throne.
Known songs
- I look for Manina in every woman
- I was only thinking of you
literature
- Hans Adler: Manina. Operetta in 4 pictures . Crescendo Theater - & - Musikverlag, Berlin 1960 (piano reduction).