Composer

:

Ernst von Dohnányi

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

Feb 19, 1911

Publication Date

:

1912

First Performance

:

Jan 22, 1913

Average_duration

:

50:09

Ernst von Dohnányi's opera 'Aunt Simona' was composed in 1934 and premiered on November 24th of the same year at the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest. The libretto was written by Ferenc Molnár, a Hungarian playwright, and novelist. The opera is a comedy in three acts and is set in a small Hungarian village in the early 20th century. The plot revolves around Aunt Simona, a wealthy and eccentric old woman who has returned to her hometown after many years of living abroad. She is determined to find a suitable husband for her niece, Iluska, who is in love with a poor but honest young man named Lajos. Aunt Simona disapproves of Lajos and sets out to find a more suitable match for Iluska. As the story unfolds, Aunt Simona's meddling causes chaos and confusion in the village. She tries to set Iluska up with a wealthy but unscrupulous man named Zoltán, who is only interested in her money. Meanwhile, Lajos is falsely accused of stealing from Aunt Simona and is thrown in jail. In the end, Aunt Simona realizes the error of her ways and helps to clear Lajos' name. She also comes to see that true love is more important than wealth and status. The opera ends with Iluska and Lajos reunited and Aunt Simona happily watching over them. The music of 'Aunt Simona' is characterized by its lively and playful melodies, which reflect the comedic nature of the story. Dohnányi's use of folk music elements also adds to the Hungarian flavor of the opera. The vocal writing is demanding, particularly for the soprano who sings the role of Aunt Simona. Despite its initial success, 'Aunt Simona' has not become a staple of the operatic repertoire. However, it remains an important work in the history of Hungarian opera and a testament to Dohnányi's skill as a composer.

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