Undine (Hoffmann)

• Undine (soprano )
• Knights of Huldbrand Ringstetten (baritone )
• An old fisherman ( bass)
• His wife (mezzo- soprano)
• Heilmann, a clergyman (baritone )
• Kühleborn, a powerful water spirit (Bass)
• The Duke (Tenor)
• The Duchess (mezzo- soprano)
• Berthalda, their foster daughter (Soprano)
• Water spirits, earth spirits, knights, noble ladies (chorus )

Undine is a romantic magical opera in three acts by ETA Hoffmann. Although Hoffmann was also a great poet - in this area it is now much better known - he was the libretto by his friend Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué after his own design, the fairy tale novella of the same name, write. Premiere was on 3 August 1816 Royal Theater at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin on the occasion of the birthday celebration Friedrich Wilhelm III. of Prussia. The time already very famous architect and painter Karl Friedrich Schinkel had created the stage. The work is not - as mentioned in some opera leaders - through-composed. The individual music numbers are connected to each other through spoken dialogue.

Action

Act I

The interior of a fisherman's hut with a window on the rear wall

The old fishermen once again worry about their foster daughter Undine, which is actually far would have to be at home again. Knights of Huldbrand Ringstetten who has found refuge with them when he had to flee from a storm, learns of the couple that got a daughter sixteen years ago. But fate was cruel to them, because even after a year the girl had drowned in the nearby lake. Maybe she was also kidnapped by a water spirit, for her body was never found. But them was by a happy coincidence on the same day Undine been supplied. Although this is a very capricious being, but they loved her as her own child. Knight Huldbrand explained that he wanted to go out into the night and look Undine.

Transformation: night. Lake shore with rocks and cascading water flooding

Undine quarrels with her uncle Kühleborn, the mighty waters princes. He had often warned of the people, but still Undine had insisted on leaving her wet element to find a mortal who will marry her. She hopes to obtain in this way a soul. When coming to a head of the armed, Huldbrand emerges, and Kühleborn disappears with its water spirits in the lake.

Huldbrand is charmed by Undine's beauty. Magically he feels attracted to her. But also for Undine is Huldbrand love at first sight. You will come away quickly approaching and Huldbrand Undine asks to come with him to his castle. Although From the depths of the lake penetrate repeatedly warning cries of the water spirits to Undine's ear, but she can not bring herself from the rest. Gladly accepts the invitation of the knight.

Transformation: re inside the fisherman's cottage

As the couple in love has entered the fisherman's hut, the two discover a new visitor: it is Father Heilmann, who is on a pilgrimage and makes station here. Undine and Huldbrand comes in handy this circumstance. Without further ado, they ask the priest to marry them. After Undine's foster parents also have no objections, the marriage is consummated.

Sunshine has driven the storm. After Undine, Huldbrand and the Father have passed from the fishing people, they set off on the castle Ringstetten. They have no idea that they secretly being followed. It is Kühleborn who is still worried about his niece and would like to help her if she was endangered.

Second Act

Large umpflanzter lined square in the imperial city, in the middle a fountain

Undine and Berthalda walk and talk it up. One could get the impression that they were friends. But the refined Berthalda, the Huldbrand had promised even marriage recently, only plays Undine's confidante. In reality it is only set out to solve the mystery of their origin. To gain their trust, she wails Undine before that once they 've discovered on horseback as a little waif on a meadow and taken to his castle of the Duke. Only too happy if she knew who their real parents.

Meanwhile, rising Kühleborn from the well up again and warns his niece to be on guard. Incidentally Undine learns that Berthalda in truth is the supposedly drowned child of the fishermen.

Transformation: In Ritter Huldbrands hostel

Undine receives her foster parents and invites them to come along on Huldbrands castle.

Transformation: Great Ceremonial Hall

The Duke has loaded many knights and their wives to a feast. During the banquet Undine enters the hall, followed by their foster parents. Undine believes it Berthalda give pleasure by making it known with their biological parents. But while their thoughts were probably too naive. Berthalda is too proud to admit that their ancestors are poor fishermen. They accused Undine even witchcraft and leaves the room angrily. Suddenly feels Huldbrand that his love is not entirely extinguished to his former bride. Undine He accuses them have tried to offend deliberately Berthalda.

Transformation: Dark Forest

After a long search Huldbrand Berthalda place on the banks of a stream. Although from its depths again and again penetrate words of warning cooling Borns to his ear, he takes Berthalda and surprised her with a precious chain.

Transformation: Free area on the banks of a river

Undine occurs with retinue of women and squires. She is worried because she misses her husband. She fears that there could be something happened to him; but soon gives way to concern of joy when she sees come with Berthalda Huldbrand. Full of Beans latter holds the necklace over the waves, to flip the sun and the water in it. Suddenly leaves a huge fist of the waves and pulls the jewelry into the depths. Undine noted that this practical joke can only be coolness Born's work. She begs the water spirits to return the chain. Thereupon, a beautiful boy rises from the waves, Undine handed over a coral cord and disappears once again. As Undine wants to pass the string in Berthalda, it is pushed back. Huldbrand accuses his wife, they stand with evil powers in connection and have only enforced with the help of his love for her. However, with this curse for violating a strict command that he must never offend his wife. Undine is deeply distressed. A dense fog envelops them and pulls them into the river.

Act Three

Chamber at Castle Ringstetten

Huldbrands love for his former bride Berthalda is back in full swing. Although he hears repeatedly threatening words coolness Borns, as he swears him terrible revenge. Even Father Heilmann's advice, he was eventually married and had Undine, even if it was no longer with him, keep faith, fortune his plans not to influence. At the castle one prepares the wedding.

Transformation: In the courtyard

The fishermen - Huldbrands future in-laws - are invited to the wedding feast. However, it makes you feel uncomfortable. The cold her biological daughter has bitterly disappointed. In particular, the fishermen says of what Undine, however, was for a good child, and true to the memory of that song on it, which she used to sing quite often.

More and more guests arrive and settle to the panels. Wine goes around plenty; Drinking songs resound. Berthalda is the goal of their desires. She complains to her husband that he had walled up the beautiful fountain in the courtyard: Now only one thing is missing. She forgets that this is done only for fear of the water spirits. Because it but now is the time his wife wish that in the well sprudle the water again, he orders the miners and troopers, break it up with picks and spades. When, after the work is done shoots out of the first water jet, Undine is immediately visible. All are shocked - except Huldbrand. He is now clear that his true love is not Berthalda, but only Undine heard. The two embrace and kiss. Together they soar through the fountain down into the realm of the water spirits. Huldbrand has breathed out his life and has itself become a water spirit.

Music

Hoffmann's Undine was the first German opera, the "romantic" deserves the title. The music is not as catchy as pregnant at the resulting 29 years later eponymous opera by Albert Lortzingstraße, but it penetrates deeper into the psychological character of the figures. Nevertheless, over time Lortzings opera because it is much more effective stage, almost completely displaced Hoffmann's work out of the theater.

Media

Three CDs " Undine " by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, KOCH International GmbH, No. 3-1092-3 added, in co-production with RIAS Berlin and WDR Cologne 1993. Overall exposure ( omitted, only the spoken dialogue ) with Roland Hermann, Hans Franzen, Elisabeth Glauser, Krisztina Laki, Heikki Orama, Karl Ridder Busch, Ulrich Ress, Dora Koschak, Mani Mekler, the Choir of St. Hedwig's Cathedral Berlin and the Radio - Symphonie- Orchester Berlin under the direction of Roland Bader. Enter Beige is a detailed booklet that (also with spoken dialogue ), which includes an unabridged libretto.

A complete recording with spoken dialogue there with the Bamberg Youth Orchestra and Oratorio Choir under the direction of Hermann Dechant.