Schumann's Lost Opera "The Golden Pot"
The trio of protagonists familiar from "Zwickau Fantasy" have traveled back in time to the mid-19th century, the era of Schumann, and have achieved the remarkable feat of rescuing a precious work of Schumann's that was destined to be destroyed due to the tyranny of his wife, Clara.
A lost opera based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's fantasy novel "The Golden Pot".
As a spin-off of "Zwickau Fantasy," we will be introducing the four-act libretto weekly over the course of a month.
Since the libretto faithfully utilizes the original work, both those who have read it and those who have not will be able to fully enjoy the charm of Hoffmann.
Furthermore, fragments of the melody for each song will be introduced in four installments in the "Music Introduction Edition" after the story reaches its finale♪♪♪♪
Robert Schumann: Libretto, Composition (?)
E.T.A. Hoffmann: Original Work
Opera "The Golden Pot" (Der Goldne Topf)
Characters
T. Tenor S. Soprano
Br. Baritone A. Alto
Bs. Bass
Anselmus, a university student (T.): A young man who is handsome but clumsy.
Lindhorst, a fire spirit (Bs.): A mysterious archivist.
Serpentina, a golden little snake (S.): Lindhorst's daughter.
Paulmann, a head teacher (Br.): A good-natured caretaker.
Veronica (A.): Paulmann's sensible daughter.
Heerbrand, a scribe (Br.): A decent young man.
Lauerin, an old apple-selling woman (A.): Lindhorst's arch-enemy.
Serpentina's sisters (S. & A.)
Franziska (S.): Veronica's younger sister.
Parrot (T.): Lindhorst's aide.
Black Cat (Br.): Lauerin's henchman.
Angelika (S.): Veronica's friend.
Five students in bottles (T., Br.)
Mixed Chorus (4 parts)
Double-woodwind orchestra
& Harp, Glockenspiel, and various other percussion instruments
Opera "The Golden Pot" - Overview of the 4 Acts
Early 19th-century Dresden.
Anselmus, a university student, is blessed with good looks and artistic talent, but due to his otherworldly poet's soul, he leads a life of constant clumsiness and misfortune. Today, he ruins an old apple-selling woman's wares, and his pocket money for enjoying the festival disappears.
At that moment, he falls in love at first sight with Serpentina, a greenish-gold little snake he meets on the banks of the Elbe River at dusk.
Although his heart drifts further and further from the real world, he is torn between the presence of the head teacher Paulmann, who looks after him in various ways, and his daughter Veronica, who has feelings for Anselmus.
He lands a copying job at the mansion of the mysterious archivist Lindhorst, Serpentina's father, and while being lured into the fantasy world he longs for, he is actually hindered by the spells of the old apple-selling woman, who has been an enemy of Lindhorst since prehistoric times, and Veronica, eventually becoming trapped inside a crystal.
While colored by the brilliant sound of crystal bells, the singing voices of the three beautiful golden little snake sisters, and wonderful music, the story of Hoffmann's unique fantasy and horror—featuring terrifying midnight incantations and a long-standing battle continuing from the age of Atlantis—is revived in the modern day, accompanied by the music of the dreaming romanticist, Schumann.
Will Anselmus lead a proper life with Veronica in the real world, or will he become a resident of the utopia with Serpentina of the fantasy world...?
Opera "The Golden Pot" (Der Goldne Topf)
Overture
A magnificent and mysterious 'Theme of Longing' is carried on the wind. Soon, the music shifts into a tense tone depicting the 'deadly struggle between the Fire Spirit and the old apple-selling woman.' As the music gains momentum and a brilliant crystal triad rings out loudly, the song 'If the Flame of Love is Lit,' sung by the three golden snake sisters, is played beautifully.
The song, filled with longing, develops into a grand scene reminiscent of a distant utopia, but the old apple-selling woman issues a sharp warning once again, followed by the carefree humming of the stylish heroine from the real world...♪♪♪
In this way, the various themes contained within the play are introduced in a protean manner, and the entirety of this opera is condensed into this overture.
Prologue
An elderly woman selling baskets full of apples and sweets stands in front of the curtain.
At the end of the overture, a young man in a tailcoat runs in, and—crash, bang, smash!
Naughty children cheer and snatch up the scattered goods. Surrounded by the aggressive saleswoman and her cohorts, the young man bows his head in deep apology and timidly offers his wallet to the apple seller.
'So, you're running away! Are you running away?'
The old woman begins to sing insults at the young man as he hurries away.
♪ You'd Better Run (Lauerin, the old apple-selling woman)
You'd better run.
You devil's child.
You shall be imprisoned.
Inside a crystal
bottle,
you shall be imprisoned.
Act 1, Scene 1: On the Banks of the Elbe River
Dresden in the early afternoon, at the entrance to the Linke Baths.
From inside, the lively sound of a band and the bustling cheers of a festival can be heard.
A group dressed in their Ascension Day finery sings a cheerful chorus of 'Today is a Wonderful Ascension Day' as they pass through the gate one after another.
Ignoring them, Anselmus sits by a lilac bush and laments.
♪ Even Ordinary Pleasures (Anselmus)
I wanted to enjoy
a coffee with rum,
or at least a glass of double beer.
But my meager pocket money
goes to the old apple seller.
I can't even greet
the pretty girls dressed in their finery.
If I drop my bread,
it always lands butter-side down.
On my new coat,
I immediately get
a cursed stain,
or snag it on a nail and ruin it.
I try to greet a lovely madam,
but my hat flies off somewhere,
or I end up tripping over myself. That's how it goes.
Even if I leave the house very early,
I never make it on time for my appointments.
Because I get caught up in all sorts of trouble.
Defying the devil, I finally
managed to become a university student,
but I'm still useless.
Knocking over glasses,
tripping over chairs—
I've had enough!
Are even ordinary pleasures
beyond my reach?
The dreams of the future I envisioned,
where have they gone?
Are even simple pleasures
wishes that won't come true for me?
The dreams of the future I envisioned,
oh, where have they gone?
A mysterious rustling from the orchestra represents the rustling wind and the sunlight of the setting sun, and the 'Theme of Longing' from the beginning of the overture is played softly.
The sound of small crystal bells rings out brilliantly, and Anselmus's attention is drawn to the lilac bush.
The figures of the three sisters, appearing and disappearing behind the leaves, are perceived by Anselmus as green-gold snakes, and they continue their idle chatter in voices that sound like tinkling bells.
♪ In the Lilac Bush (Trio of the Golden Snakes)
Lovely blooming flowers, swaying branches,
We slip through them.
Climbing up in a hurry, then coming down.
Let us dance in the shimmering light.
The setting sun shines, a warm breeze.
Slipping through the wind, moving forward,
Entwining, descending.
Let us sing with the flowers and leaves.
Dew spills over, and the flowers sing.
Ascending, descending,
Slipping through, moving forward.
Before long, the stars will shine.
Ascending, descending,
Slipping through, moving forward...
Anselmus mutters, feeling dizzy.
"Is this really the work of the setting sun? Playing in the elderberry bushes..."
♪♪♪ As the crystal triad played by the glockenspiel rings out like a revelation, Anselmus is suddenly struck as if by lightning, and he stretches out both arms toward the elderberry bushes as if in prayer.
The three sisters begin to sing again, this time beautifully and sonorously, as if in a dream.
♪ If the flame of love is kindled (Trio of the Golden Snakes)
1 The elderberry bush
shook its leaves and said.
Though its fragrance drifted all around,
you did not understand the words.
If the flame of love is kindled,
the fragrance becomes words.
If the flame of love is kindled,
the fragrance becomes words.
2 The evening breeze
whispered gracefully.
Though it wrapped around your thoughts,
you did not understand the words.
If the flame of love is kindled,
it becomes whispering words.
If the flame of love is kindled,
it becomes whispering words.
3 The dappled sunlight cast by the setting sun
conveys in shining letters.
Though it wrapped you in a golden veil,
you did not understand the words.
If the flame of love is kindled,
it becomes shining words.
If the flame of love is kindled,
it becomes shining words.
♪♪♪ The triad rings out loudly again with a crystal sound, and one of the three little snakes, which had been peeking out from behind the leaves and gazing at Anselmus in fascination, repeats the phrase "If the flame of love is kindled."
Anselmus, also in a dreamlike state, joins his voice with hers, saying, "If the flame of love is kindled."
♪♪♪ As the crystal triad rings out even more loudly, a dignified, low, warning-like singing voice from somewhere far away transforms the dreamlike atmosphere.
♪ Come back (Lindhorst)
Hey, hey.
What are you chattering about?
Hey, hey.
How long will you keep searching
for the light that vanished beyond the mountains?
You have had enough sunbathing.
You have sung plenty of songs.
Through the thickets and the meadows,
come back.
From the grass to the riverbank,
come down.
Now, come back.
The three snakes slipped away into the grass leading to the Elbe River, leaving Anselmus standing there in a daze, and the elder tree was wrapped in silence.
The thicket where the snakes had vanished shimmered with a faint, glowing light.
♪ Oh, please, once more! (Anselmus)
Oh, please, once more!
That glimmer, that radiance!
Lovely golden snakes?
Please, let me hear it once more.
That bell-like whispering voice.
With your blessed blue eyes,
Look at me once more.
Just once!
Otherwise, I,
From such suffering,
And such intense longing,
I feel like I might die!
With those beautiful blue eyes,
Look at me once more.
Just once, I beg you!
Passersby watch with curiosity as the young man shakes the elder branches violently and speaks desperately.
"That man, he seems a bit strange!"
At the remark from a woman in a family group, Anselmus suddenly comes to his senses.
As if waking from a deep dream.
Seeing a woman warning her children not to stare, and people whispering while casting pitying glances, Anselmus is completely flustered and doesn't know what to do.
"He must have had too much to drink at the festival."
The father of the family picks up Anselmus's hat that had fallen and gently advises him in a calm tone.
"It happens to everyone. Don't mope around here, just go on home."
Completely embarrassed, Anselmus takes his hat, bows politely, and hurries away from the spot.
Then, cheerful, boisterous voices are heard from ahead, along with the singing of ♪ "Today is a wonderful Ascension Day."
"Anselmus! Anselmus!"
A group in a boat steered by a boatman is waving.
"What's the rush?"
It is the school rector Paulmann calling out. He seems to be enjoying a boat ride with his two daughters and the scribe Heerbrand.
"How about it? Why not come down the Elbe with us and spend the evening at our place?"
"Let's do that! ♪ Let's do that! ♪"
The two daughters join in, and Anselmus happily boards the boat.
♪ A fun boat ride down the Elbe (Chorus in the boat)
Fireworks are set off grandly in the park on the opposite shore, and the girls cheer. The flashes shining in the sky reflect on the water's surface, and as soon as Anselmus gazes into them, he stretches out his arms and shouts.
"Hey, you guys! So that's where you were?"
Anselmus leans over while singing the phrase "Oh, please, once more!," nearly causing the boat to capsize.
"Sir, have you lost your mind?"
The boatman shouts while holding down his jacket, and the boat somehow avoids capsizing.
"He shouldn't have had such a fit before..."
While Rector Paulmann and the scribe Heerbrand talk in whispers, shocked, Anselmus is drawn to the water's surface again.
"Anselmus! ♪ Anselmus! ♪"
A singing voice is heard from within the water.
"You will be able to meet our sister again."
It is a small, faint whispering voice that only Anselmus can hear.
"Please believe in us. Believe in us!"
Seeing Anselmus's interest drawn back to the water's surface, Rector Paulmann sits down next to him looking worried, takes his hand, and asks formally what is the matter.
♪ Daydreaming is for everyone
(Anselmus, Veronika, Heerbrand)
(Anselmus)
In the elder thicket,
I saw a mysterious sight.
Not a dream, but clearly.
Beautiful blue eyes.
Three little snakes,
shining in gold.
I heard a mysterious singing voice,
with a crystal sound.
Not a dream, but clearly.
(Veronika)
Such things
happen often.
Surely that is,
a dream.
Under the elder tree,
you must have had
a strange dream.
Even though you were asleep,
you are mistaken
in thinking you were awake.
(Heerbrand)
Such things,
happen often.
A cup of coffee,
might tell you the whereabouts
of lost documents.
An old book in Latin,
that you have never seen before,
might dance before your eyes.
Not a dream,
but when you are awake,
clearly.
(Trio)
Such things,
happen often.
(Veronika)
Surely that is,
a dream.
(Anselmus, Heerbrand)
Not a dream,
but when you are awake,
clearly.
The boat is brought to the shore, and the party disembarks. Anselmus escorts Miss Veronika skillfully without making any blunders, and to the melody of the orchestra's ♪ "Pleasant Trip Down the Elbe," the curtain falls for a moment, leading directly into the second scene.
Act 1, Scene 2: The Paulmann Family Salon
♪ Fantasy Pieces Op. 12-1 "In the Evening"
Anselmus plays the grand piano gently, while Veronika leans against the piano, listening in rapture. Younger sister Franziska is busily knitting on the sofa. Headmaster Paulmann and Heerbrand enter, looking full. "My wife's cooking is quite something, isn't it?" "Oh, thank you for the meal." "Come, let's enjoy some music as usual!" "Father? Since Mr. Anselmus is here tonight, we can ask him to accompany us, can't we?" Veronika says excitedly. "It's Schumann's latest piece, just like the one we just played. Miss Veronika, how about it?" Heerbrand spreads the sheet music for "The Walnut Tree" on the piano stand, and Anselmus begins to play smoothly. Veronika sings softly with a clear, beautiful voice. Although both are sight-reading, they capture the atmosphere of the song perfectly. Anselmus continues the accompaniment, and at Paulmann's request, Veronika sings Mozart's "Longing for Spring" lightly. Aided by the wine, Paulmann invites Franziska to dance along happily. Heerbrand sings Schubert's "You Are My Rest" melancholically, then performs Headmaster Graun's "Technical Aria" with a wonderful singing voice. Then, with a "Galloping Duet" composed by Paulmann himself, everyone becomes very cheerful and lively. Just as the party is in full swing, Paulmann slowly urges Heerbrand on and begins to sing to Anselmus, "I have good news for you."
♪ Beware of Ink Stains (Heerbrand)
Living alone in an old mansion in the suburbs,
an eccentric old man,
the archivist Lindhorst.
A researcher of ancient documents,
and rumored to be conducting chemical experiments.
Into his secret library,
or his secret laboratory,
no one is allowed to enter.
Many rare books,
in Arabic,
or ancient Egyptian,
or even written in strange characters,
that do not correspond to any language in this world.
The job of copying such manuscripts.
Black ink on parchment.
What is needed is precision.
Without a single error, every letter,
accurately, the work of a copyist.
The work is from noon until evening.
A meal is included with the 3 o'clock break.
But beware of ink stains.
Your painstaking copying will be ruined.
If that happens to be the original,
you will likely be thrown out the window.
Everyone has failed at this before,
and everyone was dismissed on the spot.
In that regard, you have a fine hand,
and you are someone who can do truly careful work.
But beware of ink stains.
Your painstaking copying will be ruined.
If that happens to be the original,
you will likely be thrown out the window.
Still, the attraction is the silver coin reward.
If the work is good, there is a further bonus.
But beware of ink stains.
Greatly delighted, Anselmus shakes hands with Heerbrand, showing his posture and eagerness to accept the job.
Set to the gentle melody of the Larghetto slow movement from Hoffmann's Piano Sonata No. 2, he sings "That is very much appreciated" with a sense of gratitude, and the first act closes with a solemn chorus of everyone.
While the chorus continues, in front of the curtain that has already been lowered, Anselmus tidies himself up in front of a mirror at home on stage right and sets off eagerly.
On stage left is the stern door of the Lindhorst house.
The church bell strikes 12, and Anselmus takes a deep breath and reaches for the large bronze ring knocker ———,
Suddenly a flash of light streaks, the knocker turns into the face of the old apple-selling woman, and she begins to curse.
"Fool! You fool! Why did you run away that time!?"
♪ You'd better run (Apple Seller = Liese)
So, you're running?
You'd better run.
You child of the devil.
Either way, into the crystal,
you shall be imprisoned.
Inside the crystal!
A great snake appears with a terrifying song and wraps itself around the body of the screaming Anselmus.
"Kill me! Just kill me!"
Anselmus loses consciousness, and the stage goes dark with gunpowder smoke.
Anselmus's room again on stage right.
Anselmus gets up from his bed. Rector Paulmann, standing nearby, tells him in a tone of utter exasperation.
"What on earth have you gone and done! Anselmus!"
To be continued in Act 2 "Lindhorst's Mysterious Mansion" (Coming next week 7/12)...