Titus Fire Fox
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| Title: | Titus Feuerfuchs ("Love, Tricks and Wig") |
| Shape: | Burlesque opera |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Heinrich Sutermeister |
| Libretto : | Heinrich Sutermeister |
| Literary source: | "The Talisman" by JN Nestroy |
| Premiere: | April 14, 1958 |
| Place of premiere: | Basel |
| Playing time: | approx. 2 ¼ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | Brewery and count's castle in Austria during the Biedermeier period |
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Titus Feuerfuchs (subtitle: Liebe, Tücke und Wig ) is a burlesque opera in two acts (five pictures) by Heinrich Sutermeister , who was also his own librettist. The text book is based on the farce Der Talisman by Johann Nepomuk Nestroy . It premiered on April 14, 1958 at the Stadttheater Basel .
action
The opera takes place on the premises of a brewery and in the nearby counts of Cypressenburg Castle during the Biedermeier period .
Titus is one of the apprentices in his uncle Spund's brewery. Because of his head of red hair, he is constantly teased by servants and brewgirls. This is why he tends to use jokes to attract unwanted attention. One day, however, Uncle Spund's collar bursts and he chases his nephew away.
Monsieur Marquis is one of the most sought after hairdressers in the whole country. His assistants carry him in a sedan chair to Castle Cypressenburg, where he is supposed to beautify the widowed countess for her upcoming birthday party. During a short rest in the forest, the group is attacked by six bandits. Titus noticed everything and daringly throws himself in between. Thanks to his help, the robbers are able to flee. Monsieur Marquis is also grateful and gives his rescuer a hat box , which he initially ignores.
Not far from the Count's castle, Titus meets the goose girl Salome Pockerl. She too has fiery red hair and is therefore often exposed to the ridicule of others. The two young people like each other straight away and start to joke around happily. The flirtation comes to an abrupt end when Salome is recalled by her boss Flora Baumscheer, the widowed castle gardener.
Meanwhile, Titus has opened Monsieur Marquis' present. To his surprise, the box doesn't contain an old hat, but a beautiful black wig that suits him. He wants to show himself to the goose girl in a moment. He is also admitted to the castle; but he cannot see Salome. Instead of her, he meets her boss. Flora Baumscheer is delighted at the sight of the elegant young man. But even with the chambermaid Constantia, Titus has a stone in the board. She ensnares the charmer in a very seductive way. But now Monsieur Marquis is seized by jealousy, because his heart has been on fire for Constantia for a long time, and now he sees a rival in Titus . When Titus fell asleep in an armchair from being tired, he tore the wig off his head and left the room.
As soon as Titus has woken up, he notices that he has lost his black curls. But the hair artist forgot to close the wig cabinet in his hurry. Titus quickly grabs inside and is now in possession of a blonde toupee .
Chamberlain Constantia now thinks the time has come to present the new guest as the Countess's Chamberlain . The only downside to him is his black hair. (Constanzia knows that the high-born does not like black hair at all.) The countess is all the more surprised that a blond youth now enters the room, she is delighted. The chambermaid suddenly becomes dizzy; she is close to fainting. But when she has gathered herself again, she goes up to the perplexed Titus and scolds him for a deceiver. The countess is so furious that she loses her composure and orders the chambermaid to be dismissed without notice. She leaves the castle furious.
The birthday celebration is reaching its climax. The works "Spring Bliss" and "Ode", set to music by the Countess herself, are to be premiered. Titus in the late Count's tailcoat accompanies the birthday child to the sound of the harp. The composer is so overwhelmed by her own songs and singing that she faints. The guests make every effort to awaken them. Suddenly the door of the hall opens. With the shouts “Widow molester! Rascal! Vagabond! ”Flora Baumscheer and the released Constantia rush in and accuse Titus of fraud. In reality he is not a blond youth, no, he has pitch black hair! The poor now have no choice but to take off their wig. As the whole party group sees the red curls, it becomes clear to everyone that Titus is indeed a fraud. The countess quickly forgot that she had just shown her chambermaid outside the door. Together with her and the gardener, the three want to take revenge on Titus. Then the hall door opens again and brewery owner Spund enters with Salome Pockerl in the wake. Titus' uncle has long since regretted what he did to his nephew. Now he wants to make amends for everything. With tears in his eyes he takes Titus in his arms. The three furies are also moved by this. All you can do is wish the cheater all the best.
Titus realizes that his true love does not depend on luxury. His heart only beats for Salome Pockerl, with whom he shares the red hairstyle. He proposes to her and she agrees.
music
Not only is Sutermeister's text book funny, but also his dance-like music, consisting of couplets , parodies and pantomimes. The following numbers should be highlighted: Titus' song after discovering the black wig So I hold you, you proud career, you black curly hair, you curly chimera! You are happiness in the crown of my future! Farewell, goodbye everyone! In that higher sphere I now ascend and leave the desolate world behind! When Titus notices that his wig has disappeared, he sings Who Robbed It, the curly chimera, and played "The Force of Fate" from behind? The Countess's song is also delightful when she first saw Titus O blond cherub of sweet harmonies, Apollo herself appeared to me.
literature
- "Opera and Operetta" by Clemens Wolthens, Tosa Verlag Vienna (1967)
Web links
- Information on the work with orchestra is available from schott-musik
- Work data on Titus Feuerfuchs based on the MGG with discography at Operone