Tobias Wunderlich
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| Original title: | Tobias Wunderlich |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Joseph Haas |
| Libretto : | Ludwig Strecker the Younger after Hermann Heinz Ortner |
| Premiere: | November 24, 1937 |
| Place of premiere: | kassel |
| Playing time: | approx. 2¾ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | In the German Alpine countries, present |
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Tobias Wunderlich is a modern German folk opera in three acts (six pictures). The music was composed by Joseph Haas , the libretto was written by Ludwig Strecker the Younger under the pseudonym Ludwig Andersen . A text by the Austrian writer Hermann Heinz Ortner served as a template . The premiere took place on November 24, 1937 in Kassel .
action
First to third elevator
In a small village in the Alps there is a carved statue of Saint Barbara . According to a resolution of the municipal council, the valuable, artistically elaborated figure is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, as the master of the work is unknown. The clog maker Tobias Wunderlich tries to prevent the auction because he wants the statue to be preserved for the community. A rich American Brown offers half a million, so that Wunderlich's objection is no longer valid and the auction is closed. After the auction, Tobias remains depressed in the church and implores a miracle. The statue hears him unexpectedly, comes to life and descends from the altar to him. Her name is Elisabeth Velbacherin and she was the maid of the old master carver who immortalized her in wood. She follows Tobias to serve him as a maid.
But the disappearance of the statue does not go unnoticed: On the altar steps you will find a handkerchief, which is interpreted as a reference to the thief. Brown wants his already overwritten check back, but it is already too late. Even the telephone blocking is no longer possible because the mayor preceded him by breaking the phone connection. The gypsy barbara, suspected of stealing the statue, can prove her innocence. Tobias, who is now alone in his workshop with Saint Barbara, is inspired to also carve a portrait of her. When the wooden shoemaker leaves his workshop at short notice, a community clerk comes along who is absolutely delighted with the new maid, but who is expelled immediately after Tobias' return. Thereupon Tobias demands a promise from Barbara: she mustn't tell anyone about her secret, otherwise she would have to go back to her old place in the church.
The miracle became known in the surrounding communities until the village was chosen as a place of pilgrimage. The arriving pilgrims are taken in and taken advantage of by the enterprising villagers. Tobias Wunderlich firmly condemns the residents' greed for profit, but is not heard; only the gypsy barbara takes his side. After Tobias has finished carving his statue, Barbara decorates it with all kinds of colorful flowers. A delegation from the community appears to make Tobias an honorary citizen, but he refuses. Alone with the statue, this figure also comes to life and prepares dinner while Tobias sleeps. When Tobias wakes up, he happily speaks the Lord's Prayer with her , whereupon Saint Barbara turns into a statue again.
literature
- Joseph Haas, Hermann Heinz Ortner, Ludwig Andersen: Tobias Wunderlich: Opera in three acts (six images) op.90 . Schott Music Verlag 1937. ISBN 3-79573-313-8