Composer

:

Daniel-François-Esprit Auber

Genre

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1823

First Performance

:

October 8, 1823

Average_duration

:

04:17

La Neige, ou Le nouvel Eginhard is an opera composed by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber. The opera was composed in 1833 and premiered on January 28, 1837, at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. The libretto was written by Eugène Scribe and Anne-Honoré-Joseph Duveyrier. The plot of the opera revolves around the love story of Eginhard, a young scholar, and Emma, the daughter of the Duke of Bavaria. Eginhard is sent to Bavaria to study under the Duke, and he falls in love with Emma at first sight. However, Emma is already engaged to the Count of Hohenzollern, and her father is determined to see the marriage through. Eginhard and Emma continue to meet in secret, but their love is discovered by the Duke. He banishes Eginhard from Bavaria and arranges for Emma to marry the Count. Eginhard returns to his homeland, where he becomes a successful scholar and writer. Years later, Eginhard is invited back to Bavaria to attend the wedding of Emma's daughter. Emma is now a widow, and she and Eginhard are reunited. They confess their love for each other, but Emma is torn between her love for Eginhard and her duty to her daughter. In the end, Emma chooses duty over love, and Eginhard returns to his homeland alone. The opera is divided into three acts and features a number of memorable musical movements, including a duet between Eginhard and Emma in Act II and a chorus of Bavarian peasants in Act III. The music is characterized by Auber's signature blend of French and Italian styles, with lively melodies and colorful orchestration. Overall, La Neige, ou Le nouvel Eginhard is a romantic and dramatic opera that showcases Auber's skill as a composer and Scribe's talent as a librettist. It remains a popular work in the French opera repertoire and is frequently performed today.

More....