Black Forest Girl (Operetta)
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| Title: | Black Forest girl |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Leon Jessel |
| Libretto : | August Neidhart |
| Premiere: | August 25, 1917 |
| Place of premiere: | (First) Komische Oper Berlin |
| Place and time of the action: | in the fictional village "St. Christof" in the Black Forest around 1917 |
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Schwarzwaldmädel (sometimes it is also called Das Schwarzwaldmädel ) is an operetta in three acts by Leon Jessel . The libretto was written by August Neidhart . The world premiere took place on August 25, 1917 at the Alte Komische Oper Berlin in Berlin.
orchestra
Two flutes (2nd also piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, a harp, a celesta, percussion and strings
action
The operetta is set in the fictional village "Sankt Christof" in the Württemberg part of the Black Forest around 1917 (the piano reduction from 1917 says "presently").
first act
In the music room of the cathedral music director
Malwine von Hainau is not only maddened, but also very jealous. But because her current crush, Hans, feels annoyed by her, he takes a break from her and drives to the Black Forest with his friend Richard. Both hope to find some peace there. You land in the village of Sankt Christof. Although the place is only a small patch, there is - one is amazed! - a huge cathedral church.
When the two of them reach Sankt Christof, the preparations for the Feast of Cecilia are in full swing. Although the Domkapellmeister is particularly challenged, he still rents out guest rooms. He is currently sitting in his study and is jingling the piano a little when there is a knock on the door. Two young men - it's Hans and Richard, of course - come in, pretend to be traveling musicians and want a night's lodging.
The cathedral music director is happy about the variety. He talks brilliantly with the strangers. Soon afterwards there is another knock, and Malwine von Hainau enters the room. Because she found out where her lover has retired to. Now she hopes to be able to change his mind in the beautiful Black Forest village. But she immediately realizes that Hans is now drawn to the young Black Forest girl who works in the house. But anyone who believed that she was now giving free rein to her jealousy is mistaken. After all, there is another young man in the house for whom she can stretch out her feelers: Richard!
Enthusiastic thoughts also attack Blasius Römer, the cathedral music director. Although he has almost reached retirement age, he feels like he's in the second spring. He secretly fell in love with his young household help, Bärbele. He had already made the decision several times to ask her if she would marry him, but whenever things got serious, he didn't dare. Bärbele is fond of him and occasionally kisses him briefly on the cheek, but this is more to be understood as if a daughter gives her father a kiss.
Second act
In the courtyard of the “Blue Ox” on the day of the Cecilia Festival
After the festive service, the whole village meets in the courtyard of the "Blue Ox". Musicians play to dance. There is a lot of laughter and sometimes arguing. A tourist from Berlin also celebrates. He has a big mouth and annoys the local villagers.
The rumor spreads that the old Roman still wants to propose marriage to his housekeeper. Old Traudl - a woman who is teased by many in the village - approaches the cathedral music director and tells him openly to his face that he shouldn't do anything stupid. But the old Roman can only laugh about that. Only a few minutes pass, however, and the laughter stops in his throat when he sees "his" dear Bärbele flirting with the "hiking musician" who has come up.
The band asks for silence and announces the Cäcilienpolka as the next dance. According to old custom, women are chosen. Bärbele opts for the old Roman; but a dance is incompatible with the dignity of his ecclesiastical office. Therefore he gives Bärbele a basket. A few young fellows, who have not escaped this affront, begin to mock Bärbele. When she is also called a witch, Hans can no longer hold back. Angry, he approaches one of the men and starts a huge fight. The host of the "Blue Ox" has to use all his strength to at least restore some peace.
Third act
In the pub the day after
The mayor of Sankt Christof desperately wants to find out who started the fight yesterday, but all his attempts to solve the riddle fail. In the end, he only found out that Malwine von Hainau was engaged to Richard.
Bärbele gets bad and good news at the same time: She learns that her father has passed away and has left her with a great fortune. When this news reached the old Roman, he finally came to the conclusion: If he were still courting Bärbele, it would be said in the whole village that he was a dowry hunter.
Bärbele reveals to the cathedral music director that she has found the man for life in Hans and that she will move to town with him. This news makes the cathedral music director deeply sad. As a lovely comforter, all that remains for him now is his church music.
music
It is more of a Singspiel than an operetta. The following music numbers emerge from the piano reduction:
first act
- No. 1 Introduction and scene (Römer, Bärbele): "O sancta Cäcilia"
- No. 2 quintet (Bärbele, Hannele, Römer, Hans, Richard) "We are on the roll"
- No. 3 Terzett (Hans, Richard, Römer) "The women, they are a brood"
- No. 4 Duet (Malwine, Richard) "Alluring eyes of sweet sirens"
- No. 5 duet (Lorle, Theobald) "Happiness never comes to us"
- No. 6 Finale I (Malwine, Hans, Bärbele, Römer)
Second act
- No. 7 Introduction & Choral Scene (Children's Choir, Choir, Romans) "Hey, see the Hex"
- No. 7a Melodrama (Romans)
- No. 8 quintet (Malwine, Lorle, Bärbele, Hannele, Richard) "Maiden from the Black Forest"
- No. 9 Duet (Malwine, Richard) "Malwine, oh Malwine"
- No. 10 Duet (Bärbele, Römer) "Sound to dance the violins"
- No. 11 Finale II (Bärbele, Malwine, Lorle, Hans, Richard, Theobald, Römer, choir)
Third act
- No. 12 Entr'akt and song (Lorle) "Shines the sun in"
- No. 13 Marschterzett (Malwine, Richard, Schmusheim) "It can be a boy"
- No. 14 final song (Bärbele, Hans, Römer) "Sound to dance the violins"
Performances
From the first performance in 1917 to the ban on performance in 1933 during the National Socialist era , the operetta was played over 6,000 times. Since it had friends up to Himmler and Hitler even under the National Socialists, it was allowed to be performed until 1937. After 1945 she became known again through film adaptations. The main roles in the world premiere were played by Gustav Charlé (Domkapellmeister Blasius Römer) and Steffi Walidt (“Bärbele”). In the summer of 2019, the play will be performed again in a revised and updated version at the Moosegg open-air theater in Switzerland .
filming
Schwarzwaldmädel was made into a silent film by Arthur Wellin in 1920 . Other earlier film adaptations of the operetta were Victor Janson's 1929 film Schwarzwaldmädel and Georg Zoch's version from 1933, which was also published under the title of the operetta.
In 1950 the operetta was also filmed as a Black Forest girl under the direction of Hans Deppe . The main structure of the plot was retained and only changed in the secondary lines.
A first television adaptation that decisively changed the content was made in 1961 ( Schwarzwaldmädel (1961) ). A second television adaptation, which closely followed the original, followed in 1973 ( Schwarzwaldmädel (1973) ).
Trivia
Jessel bequeathed funds to the youth and family welfare department of the Wilmersdorf district office in Berlin.
Exhibitions
- June 30th to September 8th 2017: Schwarzwaldmädel , "SWR-Studio Freiburg"
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Wilhelm Zentner and Anton Würz (eds.): Reclam's opera and operetta guide. Philipp Reclam jun., Stuttgart 1962, article Das Schwarzwaldmädel, p. 179.
- ↑ 100 years "Black Forest Girl": Contemporary history under the Bollenhut. SWR.de, accessed on August 12, 2017 .
- ^ Opernensemble Hamburger Mozarteum: Information leaflet on the performances from September 27 to September 29 in the theater on Marschnerstrasse in Hamburg.
- ↑ Schwarzwaldmädel - Comedy-Operetta based on L. Jessel. At FreilichtspieleMoosegg.ch, accessed on September 12, 2019.
- ↑ cf. "Black Forest Girl" in: Manfred Günther : Dictionary youth - age . Berlin 2010, p. 100