Master Pedro's puppet show
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Master Pedro's puppet show |
| Original title: | El retablo del Maese Pedro |
| Original language: | Spanish |
| Music: | Manuel de Falla |
| Libretto : | Manuel de Falla after Miguel de Cervantes |
| Premiere: | June 25, 1923 |
| Place of premiere: | Paris |
| Playing time: | about 30 minutes |
| Place and time of the action: | Stable of an inn in Aragon, 16th century |
| people | |
El retablo del Maese Pedro , German Master Pedros puppet show is an opera in one act by Manuel de Falla , who also wrote the libretto based on Miguel de Cervantes ' famous novel Don Quixote . The premiere took place on June 25, 1923 in Paris . The German premiere took place on January 13, 1927 in Cologne with a translation into German by Hans Jelmoli . For the opera, the composer chose a chamber music orchestra with a harpsichord.
action
Master Pedro puts on a small puppet show where Don Quixote is a spectator. Pedro's son explains the plot to the audience: The beautiful Melisendra, daughter of Charlemagne, has been taken prisoner by the Arabs. Her husband Gayferos tries to free her, which he finally succeeds. However, they are persecuted by numerous Arabs. Don Quixote is so captured by the plot that the game turns into reality for him. He rushes to help Melisendra knightly and with his sword cuts off the heads of the puppet figures who are chasing the king's daughter. While Don Quixote proudly sings a knight's song and celebrates his alleged heroism, Master Pedro regrets the loss of his puppets.