Composer

:

Werner Egk

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Die Zaubergeige is an opera composed by Werner Egk, which premiered on July 23, 1935, at the National Theatre in Munich, Germany. The libretto was written by the composer himself, and the opera is based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The plot of the opera revolves around a magical violin, which is owned by a poor musician named Peter. The violin has the power to make people dance uncontrollably, and Peter uses it to earn money by playing at weddings and other events. However, he soon discovers that the violin is cursed, and that it will bring him nothing but trouble. The first movement of the opera introduces the main characters and sets the scene. We meet Peter, his wife, and their children, as well as the villainous Count von Helfenstein, who is determined to steal the magical violin for himself. The second movement sees Peter using the violin to earn money, but he soon realizes that the curse is taking its toll on him and his family. He decides to get rid of the violin, but the Count intervenes and steals it from him. In the third movement, Peter and his family try to get the violin back from the Count, but they are unsuccessful. The Count uses the violin to make the villagers dance uncontrollably, causing chaos and destruction. The final movement sees Peter and his family teaming up with a group of gypsies to defeat the Count and break the curse of the violin. They succeed, and the opera ends with a joyful celebration. Die Zaubergeige is characterized by its use of folk music and dance, which reflect the fairy tale setting of the story. The music is lively and energetic, with a strong emphasis on rhythm and melody. The opera was well-received at its premiere, and it remains a popular work in the German opera repertoire.

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