Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde

  • Schulz, mayor of the village and guardian of Lisbeth ( bass)
  • His wife (Alt )
  • Hermann, their son (tenor )
  • Lisbeth, foster child and ward of the mayor marriage people (soprano )
  • Codger, a shady drifter ( bass)
  • People from the village (chorus )

The Son and Stranger (MWV 6 L ) is a musical comedy in one act by Felix Mendelssohn (Op. 89). The composer himself described his work as the songs play. The libretto Karl Klingemann. The performance lasts about an hour.

General

It is an opportunity to work, which had composed the 20 -year-old Mendelssohn the silver wedding of his parents. Therefore, the first performance took place in any theater, but on December 22, 1829 in the Garden Room of the mendelsohn between family property in Berlin. The singers were members of the family. The problem was the vocal part, the composer had provided for the role of Schulz; because this should be embodied by his most unmusical Schwager. So he just gave him to sing a note, always the same (F). But he is said to have not always met.

Action

Place and time: A German village in the 18th century

As once strangers are spotted in the village, the young men are trying to recruit for the army, it puts the wife of the mayor a stab in the heart. She remembers only too well how her own son Hermann had decided six years ago to follow such a reputation. Since then she has never heard from him again. Your foster daughter Lisbeth adopt honest effort to cheer her up a bit, especially since the 50-year anniversary with the company of their spouse is imminent. But Lisbeth can be infected by the sadness of her foster mother, it has also fallen head over heels in Hermann and longs for his speedy return.

Appears at once codger, a highly dubious figure on the scene. He knows how to take advantage of every opportunity afforded to him to knock the best for themselves. Lisbeth considers him a recruiter, and he also encouraged in this belief. Of course, he also has heard of the impending celebration where pure but the whole village about it. He recommended Lisbeth to play the master of ceremonies at the festival.

Earlier, when Hermann and Lisbeth became a couple, Hermann had his beloved frequently sung a song that Lisbeth now believes to hear again, and in fact: That musician front of the house is none other than Hermann! He wanted to make known in the village first his lover and not his parents.

Codger comes to ears, the mayor's son for many years been serving in the Foreign Legion. He suspects the opportunity to exploit this fact for himself by himself would even spend as Hermann in tomorrow's celebration. But if the plan is to succeed, he must first of all ensure that the musician, who hitched up at Lisbeth, disappears. Immediately he goes to the mayor and warns him of an individual that it had designs on his ward.

The night falls. Hermann is on the point of his Lisbeth recite a serenade. Suddenly owl appears, pretends to be a night watchman and want to show him to the village. Hermann but is not as fast intimidated. He approaches the right night watchman, borrows from him lantern, horn and spear, and now driven codger.

The following morning the villagers flock to the mayor's house. Also Kautz is and claims to be the returning son. All are amazed that Hermann should have changed so much in six years. Fortunately, coming soon added the true Hermann and exposes the tramp as impostors. The mayor and his wife revel in joy that they have again their son with her. Soon, probably will succeed the anniversary celebration engagement party.

Media

  • Opera by title
  • Opera in German language
  • Singspiel
  • Work by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
  • Music 1829
  • Opera of the 19th century
Musical tone
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de