Erwin und Elmire

• Olimpia
• Elmire, her daughter
• Bernardo
• Erwin

Erwin und Elmire is a musical comedy with a libretto by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The first version was performed on September 13, 1775 in Frankfurt am Main with the Marchand 's troops, the second on June 10, 1796 by Louise of Göchhausen in Weimar. The poem A violet in the meadow stood from the factory set to music Mozart on June 8, 1785 (KV 476).

A play with songs (1773-1775)

Olimpia sings and wants to cheer with the song her daughter Elmire. Actually Elmire lucky, because the mother leaves her husband in the election free hand: Take what you want from the sixes! Moreover, Olimpia thinks marriage is appropriate for Elmire, and if a woman has sense, she can add in everything.

First Elmire has excuses: I've always lived more for me than for others. Olimpia knows better. Erwin is right for Elmire. His skill, his diligence replaced the lack of own assets ... It's from a good family. Well the truth of Elmire breaks out. Your coldness was the one who drove him away.

Elmire is distraught and fears the worst. If he not only his mother, his friends, but perhaps the world left - Terrific idea!

But with the mother Olimpia in the league is the good old Bernardo, formerly Elmires French language tutor, friend and confidant. Olimpia and Bernardo want Elmires lucky Elmire want to bring with Erwin again. This plan leads Bernardo by now. First, however, he suggests in Elmires notch.

Law has Bernardo, Elmire adds, lamenting Erwin's absence. I have tormented him, I made him unhappy ... I had his heart trampled on.

But Bernardo knows Elmire. She was basically good. Elmire have to disagree. Bernardo know more. He recommends Elmire a confessor with a long white beard who lives as a hermit out in the woods and she should confide. Elmire is included in their distress to the proposal.

Change of scene. Of course, Erwin is that hermit. He speaks the interior rooting out: I see her here, she is ever present before my mind thinks and Elmire. Bernardo comes and tells him to another. Erwin wants none of it. Bernardo calls:

The good old man has the same something for Erwin's costuming as a holy man in his luggage. And now comes Elmire in the extreme embarrassment strolled up the valley and sighs:

And becomes concrete.

Erwin soon understood the situation and jubilant:

He sends Elmire continues, but only a bit. Then he rushes after her and takes off the disguise. Elmire promises Erwin at the end of the game:

A Musical Comedy (1787 )

1786 Goethe wrote to his friend, the composer Philipp Christoph Kayser: "With Erwin und Elmire I intend Instead of mother and Bernardo introduce another pair Young men from a different way disagreement live in love, so Zwey intrigues which together will loop and at the end Beyde dissolve in the hermitage. From the present would remain nothing but the singing most pieces you might choose. "

First edition and setting

Deetjen cites a manuscript from the Goethe and Schiller Archives: " Goethe's Singspiel, Erwin und Elmire ' first appeared in his' writings ' Volume 5, 1788, it was repeatedly composed, among others, by the Duchess Anna Amalia. . "

Other setting are from:

• Johann André ( 1775)
• Carl Christian Agthe
• Johann Friedrich Reichardt
• Othmar Schoeck.

Performance

Louise of Göchhausen wrote in early June 1796 Goethe: " We remember the morning the night before a small company behind locked doors bey your operetta, Erwin and Elimire to play. The Duchess knows nothing about it, and we hope to make it a little fun with it. Now comes the request! You mögten us the theater, besides which allow corresponding 2 decorations and lighting kindly. Solte the lighting make Schwürigkeiten, so let us also like to Herbey creation of Lights understand. "

Selbstzeugnisse

" Write to me soon as you like it also has as Erwin fallen. You always have to dencken that these pieces must be played and sung, to read, even for Blosen threading you could have done it much better and need. "

"I have zeither fleisig geboßelt my Operibus continued and fiddled. Erwin, Claudine, Purple, Jeri 's all fine. "

"Later Claudine von Villa Bella and Erwin und Elmire read. "