Composer

:

Felix Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

Aug 10, 1825

Publication Date

:

1828

First Performance

:

Apr 29, 1827

Average_duration

:

76:30

Movement_count

:

19

Movement ....

Die Hochzeit des Camacho (The Wedding of Camacho) is an opera composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1824-1825. The libretto was written by Friedrich Voigt, based on a chapter from Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote. The opera premiered on January 29, 1827, at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, conducted by the composer himself. The plot of the opera revolves around the wedding of the wealthy Camacho and the beautiful Quiteria. The story takes place in a small Spanish village, where the villagers are preparing for the wedding festivities. However, Quiteria is in love with Basilio, a poor but handsome young man, and she is reluctant to marry Camacho. Basilio, who is also in love with Quiteria, comes up with a plan to win her heart. He pretends to be dead, and Quiteria, believing him to be truly dead, agrees to marry Camacho. However, at the wedding ceremony, Basilio reveals himself to be alive, and Quiteria chooses him over Camacho. The opera is divided into three movements, each consisting of several scenes. The first movement introduces the characters and sets the scene for the wedding festivities. The second movement focuses on the conflict between Quiteria's love for Basilio and her duty to marry Camacho. The third movement resolves the conflict and ends with the wedding of Quiteria and Basilio. The music of Die Hochzeit des Camacho is characterized by Mendelssohn's signature style, which combines classical forms with Romantic harmonies and melodies. The opera features arias, duets, and ensemble pieces, as well as choral numbers and instrumental interludes. The music is lively and colorful, reflecting the festive atmosphere of the wedding celebrations. Die Hochzeit des Camacho was not a commercial success, and Mendelssohn later revised the opera, removing some of the more complex musical passages and simplifying the orchestration. The revised version was premiered in 1837, but it still failed to gain widespread popularity. Today, Die Hochzeit des Camacho is rarely performed, but it remains an important work in Mendelssohn's oeuvre, showcasing his talent for blending classical and Romantic elements in his music.

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