Die Zwillingsbrüder
Encyclopedia
Die Zwillingsbrüder is a one-act Singspiel
(sometimes also described as a Posse mit Gesang
) composed by Franz Schubert
in 1819 on a libretto
by Georg Ernst von Hofmann. Die Zwillingsbrüder was first performed at the Kärtnertortheater on June 14, 1820.
Hofman based the libretto on the 1818 French vaudeville
Les deux Valentin (The Two Valentines) by Marc-Antoine Madeleine Désaugiers
and Michel-Joseph Gentil de Chavagnac (1770-1846).
Die Zwillingsbrüder, like Schubert's other operatic works met with limited success both at the work's inception and over time. Critics attribute this to the weakness of the libretto as well as to a mismatch between the lightness of the subject matter and the refined nature of Schubert's music. In this work, Schubert's music often approaches the style of Mozart, evoking for instance Die Zauberflöte.
Unfortunately, upon Lieschen's birth, her father, Der Schulze, had agreed with a friend, Franz Spiess, that, in exchange for a sum of money, Franz would be allowed to marry Lieschen when she came of age. Immediately following the deal, Spiess had left for the war. Franz, now an old veteran whom the villagers had presumed dead, suddenly returns, on the last day on which he can claim his bride, and Lieschen's father must keep his word.
Coincidentally, Friedrich Spiess, Franz’s twin brother, also a veteran, happens to return to the village on that same day. The Spiess brothers are both under the impression that their twin was killed in the war. Since they are identical twins and they are never in the same place at the same time, the villagers mistake them for each other. The twins' stories and behaviors do not match (while one brother strives to arrange his marriage to the heroine, the other gladly revokes his right to it), leading Der Schulze to believe that the old soldier has sustained a mentally impairing sword wound and that he is unfit to marry his daughter. After this confusion is used to comic effect in a variety of ways, the twins finally meet, and Lieschen is allowed to marry Anton.
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
(sometimes also described as a Posse mit Gesang
Posse mit Gesang
Posse mit Gesang is a form of popular German-language music drama, that developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Early examples are sometimes called 'Possenspil' or 'Possenspiel'...
) composed by Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
in 1819 on a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Georg Ernst von Hofmann. Die Zwillingsbrüder was first performed at the Kärtnertortheater on June 14, 1820.
Hofman based the libretto on the 1818 French vaudeville
Vaudeville (song)
A vaudeville is a French satirical poem or song born of the 17th and 18th centuries. Its name is lent to the French theatrical entertainment comédie en vaudeville of the 19th and 20th century. From these vaudeville took its name....
Les deux Valentin (The Two Valentines) by Marc-Antoine Madeleine Désaugiers
Marc-Antoine Madeleine Désaugiers
Marc-Antoine Madeleine Désaugiers was a French composer, dramatist, and song-writer.Note: Marc-Antoine Madeleine Désaugiers is easily confused in historical writings with his father, Marc-Antoine Désaugiers Marc-Antoine Madeleine Désaugiers (17 November 1772, Fréjus – 9 August 1827) was a French...
and Michel-Joseph Gentil de Chavagnac (1770-1846).
Die Zwillingsbrüder, like Schubert's other operatic works met with limited success both at the work's inception and over time. Critics attribute this to the weakness of the libretto as well as to a mismatch between the lightness of the subject matter and the refined nature of Schubert's music. In this work, Schubert's music often approaches the style of Mozart, evoking for instance Die Zauberflöte.
Roles
| Role | Voice Type | Première Cast | Approx. Age at Time of Première |
|---|---|---|---|
| Der Schultze | Bass | Josef Gottdank (1779-1849) | 41 |
| Lieschen, his daughter | Soprano | Elizabeth (Betty) Vio (Spitzeder) (c.1806-1872) | 14 |
| Anton | Tenor | Viktor Rosenfeld (1790-?) | 30 |
| Notary | Bass | Sebastian Mayer (1773-1835) | 47 |
| Franz / Friedrich Spiess | Bass | Johann Michael Vogl Johann Michael Vogl Johann Michael Vogl , was an Austrian baritone singer and composer. Though famous in his day, he is remembered mainly for his close professional relationship and friendship with composer Franz Schubert.... (1768–1840) |
52 |
| Villagers | Mixed Chorus |
Synopsis
The scene takes place in a village on the Rhine, on the 18th birthday of the young heroine, Lieschen. Lieschen is eagerly awaiting her marriage to her young fiancé, Anton. The opera opens with a chorus in the couple’s honor.Unfortunately, upon Lieschen's birth, her father, Der Schulze, had agreed with a friend, Franz Spiess, that, in exchange for a sum of money, Franz would be allowed to marry Lieschen when she came of age. Immediately following the deal, Spiess had left for the war. Franz, now an old veteran whom the villagers had presumed dead, suddenly returns, on the last day on which he can claim his bride, and Lieschen's father must keep his word.
Coincidentally, Friedrich Spiess, Franz’s twin brother, also a veteran, happens to return to the village on that same day. The Spiess brothers are both under the impression that their twin was killed in the war. Since they are identical twins and they are never in the same place at the same time, the villagers mistake them for each other. The twins' stories and behaviors do not match (while one brother strives to arrange his marriage to the heroine, the other gladly revokes his right to it), leading Der Schulze to believe that the old soldier has sustained a mentally impairing sword wound and that he is unfit to marry his daughter. After this confusion is used to comic effect in a variety of ways, the twins finally meet, and Lieschen is allowed to marry Anton.
Discography
- Christoph Spering, cond., Chorus Musicus Köln, Das Neue Orchester. Phoenix Edition. (2008)
- Peter Maag, cond., Solisti Cantori, Philharmonia Mediterranea, Bongiovanni. (1997)