Abu Hassan

  • Abu Hassan, a favorite of the Caliph (Tenor)
  • Fatima, his wife (Soprano)
  • Omar, a money changer ( bass)
  • Mesrour, confidant of the Caliph (voice)
  • Zemrud, Zobeides maid (voice)
  • Caliph Harun al Rashid (voice)
  • Zobeide, his wife (voice)
  • Further still the followers of the caliphs and the creditors of Abu Hassan

Abu Hassan, Jähns raisonné J. 106, is a musical comedy in one act by Carl Maria von Weber. The libretto was written by Franz Carl Hiemer based on a story from " The Arabian Nights ". Weber has the composition began in August 1810 with the choir of creditors, which is not randomly appear in view of his private financial situation. Upon completion of the overture the Singspiel was then on January 12, 1811 ready. However, Weber later added two more numbers added ( in 1813 and 1822 ). In this expanded form Abu Hassan is known today. Under Weber's musical direction the work was successfully premiered on June 4, 1811 in Munich Residenz Theatre (today Cuvillies theater).

" Turkish operas" were at that time very popular: Abbé Vogler's The Merchant of Smyrna, and Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio, and later Rossini's Il Turco in Italia document this preference of the opera audience, in addition to numerous other works of this kind

How many biographers have emphasized the need Weber, in particular because of the melodic grace and musical brilliance of this work at Abu Hassan does not fear comparison with Mozart.

Action

The opera takes place in Baghdad at the time 1001. Abu Hassan is deep in debt swamp. The crowd of his creditors penetrates with him in the apartment, led by the money changers Omar, who has the greatest claim against him. Omar Hassan desires pretty woman Fatima. He wants to take advantage of Hassan's plight to persuade to love Fatima services. Only apparently she talks in his courtship and achieved in this way to defer payment. But the debts remain. Since Hassan comes up with a crazy plan: Because it is common that the Caliph couple can get a larger sum in the event of death the bereaved, to defray the funeral expenses, he that they mutually Harun al Rashid and his wife Zobeide a message suggests Fatima ago, about send their demise. Fatima is the grand plan.

At first everything seems to run as planned. However, Harun al Rashid and Zobeide can not agree on who was now now actually died, Abu Hassan and Fatima, and who should receive the money for the funeral, given the contradictory messages. So they set to Hassan's house to personally Council to be sure.

When the Caliph couple enters the apartment, Hassan and Fatima dead Harun al Raschid ask want to know who had died from the two first, and sets for the correct answer from a thousand gold ducats. Overjoyed Hassan jumps up and asks for the sum of; for he had first death comes. Suddenly awake in Fatima again the spirits. Harun al Rashid and Zobeide forgive the Dodgers and let them get the money.

Discography (selection)

  • Abu Hassan, the first recording by the New Weber Complete Edition, with students of the Hochschule für Musik Detmold. The Detmold Chamber Orchestra, Music Director: Joachim Harder. Label: Academy of Music, Detmold.
  • Abu Hassan, total uptake; Conducted by Heinz Rogner; Staatskapelle Dresden, the Dresden State Opera Chorus; Ingeborg Hallstein, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam.Label: RCA Classic / Sony BMG.
  • Abu Hassan, Gesamtaufnahme.Musikalische line: Bruno Weil; Capella Coloniensis the WDR; Choral works Ruhr; Wolfgang Volz ( Narrator / Caliph ), Johanna Stojkovic, Jörg Dürmüller, Franz -Josef Selig. Dhm Label / Sony BMG.

Sheet Music / Piano

  • Abu Hassan, WeV C. 6a, New Weber Complete Edition. Series VIII Series Piano Reductions, 190 pages. Publisher: Joachim Veit. Edited by: Frank Ziegler. ISMN: M- 00113229-9; Schott Musik International, Mainz.
Bass (voice type) Free German Trade Union Federation Westdeutscher Rundfunk Operabase Integrated Authority File
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