Mignon

  • Mignon ( teen lyric soprano )
  • Wilhelm Meister (Tenor)
  • Friedrich ( Tenor)
  • Philina, actress ( coloratura soprano)
  • Laertes, actor ( baritone)
  • Lothario, a traveling singer (baritone )
  • Jarno, leader of a band of gypsies ( bass)
  • Antonio, servant ( bass)
  • Gypsies, actor, People (chorus )

Mignon is an opera in three acts by the French composer Ambroise Thomas. The libretto was written Jules Barbier and Michel Carré be a regular contributor. As a template, they used a small part of the second book of the novel Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Premiere was on November 17, 1866 at the Opéra -Comique.

  • 2.1 Instrumentation
  • 2.2 numbers

Action

The first two acts play in Germany and the third in Italy around 1790.

Act I

A group of gypsies and a theater troupe have gathered in the courtyard of an inn in a small German town. Jarno, the leader of the gypsies want that lovely girls Mignon force her to dance in front of the guests, but she is reluctant. As Jarno then also wants to impose its will by means of strokes of the cane, the old minstrel Lothario interferes, makes a rather confused impression on everyone. He has long been in search of his daughter Sperata that has been stolen from him in childhood. Also, Wilhelm Meister, a young man from Vienna, who is in transit, the action can not be unaffected. He will not shake the feeling that the girl is not voluntarily with the gypsies. Therefore he puts Jarno to a larger sum of money so this AA is freedom. In Wilhelm Meister asked where her home was, replied Mignon metaphorically, they come from the land where the lemon trees bloom, suggesting Italy. In gratitude, the girl wants - disguised as a Page - with Wilhelm Meister move on. This happy to accept the proposal. The theater company asked the two to go with on nearby castle, where a commitment to them waiting. Wilhelm Meister and Mignon can be ask to a second time. Also, the minstrel Lothario joins them.

Second Act

Mignon secretly adores to Wilhelm Meister and believes that he is in love with her. But when she noticed that he raves about the flighty actress Philina, it almost breaks your heart. Out of desperation, she decides to end his life, but the singer Lothario can prevent this in the last second. After Mignon him has sued her suffering, grabs the old man's anger. He's back so confused that he puts the castle on fire.

Also Philina is jealous - on Mignon! It calls on the young girl to get her in the castle ostrich, it has received from Wilhelm Meister. As Mignon has entered the castle, the flames begin to beat wildly around. Wilhelm Meister plunges boldly into the fire and rescues Mignon. Now he realizes his true feelings for the girl.

Act Three

Lothario and Wilhelm Meister traveled with Mignon to Italy, where they have found in a splendid villa accommodation. Here they want the girl who has a hard time injured by fire, maintain healthy. Wilhelm Meister learns of the old servant Antonio, the palace stand for many years as ownerless and should be sold. When Wilhelm Meister these customer Lothario told and has called the name of the former owner, Count Cypriani, it falls to the wandering minstrel scales from your eyes: He is the owner! Suddenly, his senses are quite clear again.

When Wilhelm and Mignon mutually confess their love, they hear in the distance Phil Ines Titanialied. Once again seized Mignon jealousy and silenced them. Lothario or Count Cypriani hands the girl a box with jewelry and a prayer book, so that the little one feel better again. As she then looks at the contents of the box closer, also returns with her memories back: This is the house where she spent her childhood, and Count Cypriani is her father! Happy to include both in his arms. But the joy is not enough: Wilhelm and Mignon confess her love again.

(In a later version, the happy ending is missing: Mignon suffers a heart attack and dies in Wilhelm Meister's arms. )

Music

Instrumentation

  • Wind: 2 flutes (2nd piccolo ), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones,
  • Percussion: timpani, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, harp
  • Strings: Violins, violas, cellos, double basses
  • Stage Music: Harp

Numbers

Two musical numbers dominate the opera as absolute highlights and sound already in the overture to: Mignon's moody romance in the first act Connais -tu le pays, German text by Goethe:

And Phil Ines Polonaisenarie in the second act, in which the singer can shine with her coloratura Je suis Titania, German:

Both arias sound in the third act at once.

Reception

The as opéra comique, that is, as conversational opera with spoken dialogue designed work was very successful and coined at the time of the turn of the century ( 1900) publicity the picture of Mignon. To popularize contributed in addition to the very numerous picture postcards and photos at role (about Reta Walter as Mignon ) and Mignon Chocolates the Chocolate Factory David & Söhne AG. The chocolates, there are now there back in stock.

Media

  • CD Deutsche Grammophon (1996 ) - Highlights in German with Irmgard Seefried, Catherine Gayer, Ernst Haefliger and Kieth Engen in the lead roles. It plays with the Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux under the direction of Jean Fournet.
  • Double CD by Preiser (2003) - Total recording in French with Geneviève Moizan, Janine Micheau, Libero de Luca and René Bianco in the lead roles. It plays with the Orchestre National de Belgique under the direction of George Sebastian.
  • Sony 1977 - total intake in French with Marilyn Horne (Mignon ), Ruth Welting ( Philina ), Frederica von Stade ( Frédéric ), Alain Vanzo ( Wilhelm Meister ), Nicola Zaccaria ( Lothario ), Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra under Antonio de Almeida (CD 2009)
Bass (voice type) Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship Bugle Triangle (instrument) Basin Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart Integrated Authority File
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