''Die Rheinnixen'' (French: ''Les fées du Rhin''; English ''The Rhine Nixies'') is a romantic opera in four acts by

Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach (, also , , ; 20 June 18195 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario of the Romantic period. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera '' ...

. The original

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

Charles-Louis-Étienne Nuitter Charles-Louis-Étienne Nuitter was a French librettist, translator, writer and librarian born in Paris, France, on 24 April 1828. He died there on 23 February 1899 after suffering a stroke a few days before.Cooper J: Nuitter, Charles-Louis-Étien ...

was translated into German by . The Elves' Song from ''Die Rheinnixen'' was later used in ''

The Tales of Hoffmann ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died ...

'', where it became the "

Barcarolle A barcarolle (; from French, also barcarole; originally, Italian barcarola or barcaruola, from ''barca'' 'boat') is a traditional folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers, or a piece of music composed in that style. In classical music, two of the ...

" (''Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour'') in the 'Giulietta' act; Conrad's drinking song was also re-used in the same act.

Performance history

The first performance was given in a truncated form (owing to the illness of the tenor Alois Ander) on 4 February 1864 at the Hoftheater in Vienna (

Theater am Kärntnertor or (Carinthian Gate Theatre) was a prestigious theatre in Vienna during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its official title was (Imperial and Royal Court Theatre of Vienna). History The theatre was built in 1709 to designs by Ant ...

). The first full performance was given in concert at the

Corum Corum may refer to: People * Gene Corum (1921-2010), American football coach * James Corum, American military historian * Lora L. Corum (1899-1949), American racecar driver Places * Çorum, city in Turkey; capital of Çorum Province * Çorum Pr ...

, Montpellier, on 30 July 2002 with

Regina Schörg Regina Schörg (born 12 January 1969) is an Austrian soprano and teacher. Born in Vienna, Schörg studied at the Konservatorium Wien, Konservatorium der Stadt Wien from 1989 to 1992, before joining the Linz State Theatre where she worked as a solo ...

(Armgard), Nora Gubisch (Hedwig),

Piotr Beczała Piotr Beczała (Polish pronunciation: ); born 28 December 1966) is a Polish operatic tenor with an international career based primarily in Europe and the United States. He has performed in the world's leading opera houses including Metropolitan ...

(Franz), Dalibor Jenis (Conrad), and Peter Klaveness (Gottfried), and the Orchestre National de Montpellier, conducted by

Friedemann Layer Friedemann Layer (30 October 1941 – 3 November 2019) was an Austrian conductor. He was assistant to Herbert von Karajan in Ulm and to Karl Böhm. In 1989, he conducted a film version of ''Der Schauspieldirektor'', with Zdzisława Donat and Chri ...

, which was recorded. The first fully staged performance was given in

Ljubljana Ljubljana (also known by other historical names) is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. It is the country's cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative center. During antiquity, a Roman city called Emona stood in the ar ...

by the Slovenian National Opera under Dieter Rossberg on 13 January 2005. Performances followed in

Trier Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the ...

and at the

Opéra de Lyon This is a glossary list of opera genres, giving alternative names. "Opera" is an Italian word (short for "opera in musica"); it was not at first ''commonly'' used in Italy (or in other countries) to refer to the genre of particular works. Most c ...

under

Marc Minkowski Marc Minkowski (born 4 October 1962) is a French conductor of classical music, especially known for his interpretations of French Baroque works, and is the current general director of Opéra national de Bordeaux. His mother, Mary Anne (Wade), i ...

later in 2005, and in

Cottbus Cottbus (; Lower Sorbian: ''Chóśebuz'' ; Polish: Chociebuż) is a university city and the second-largest city in Brandenburg, Germany. Situated around southeast of Berlin, on the River Spree, Cottbus is also a major railway junction with exten ...

in 2006. (These performances, as at the Vienna premiere, were all given in German.) New Sussex Opera gave the British premiere of the work, under the title ''The Rhine Fairies'', in October 2009, conducted by Nicholas Jenkins, with libretto translated into English by Neil Jenkins.

Roles

Synopsis

:Place: In and around the castle of

Franz von Sickingen Franz von Sickingen (2 March 14817 May 1523) was an Imperial Knight who, with Ulrich von Hutten, led the so-called "Knights' Revolt," and was one of the most notable figures of the early period of the Protestant Reformation. Sickingen was nickn ...

, near

Kreuznach Bad Kreuznach () is a town in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is a spa town, most well known for its medieval bridge dating from around 1300, the Alte Nahebrücke, which is one of the few remaining bridges in th ...

on the Rhine :Time: During the

Knights' Revolt The Knights' Revolt (27 August 15226 May 1523) was a short-lived revolt by several German Protestant, imperial knights, led by Franz von Sickingen, against Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. It has been called the Poor Barons' Rebellion as it inspir ...

of the 16th century

Act 1

''Hedwig's farmhouse'' Peasants return from the vineyards near Bingen on the Rhine, singing of the fertility of the land. Gottfried leads a thanksgiving prayer as they approach the house of Hedwig. Hedwig tells Gottfried that she fears for the safety of their lands: she curses war, and worries about her daughter Armgard's melancholy frame of mind. Armgard sings constantly to conceal a hidden grief, and Hedwig recounts a ballad of the fate of young women who sang too much. By refusing to cease her singing, she gives her mother cause to worry that she too will succumb like the spirits in her ballad. Gottfried declares his love for Armgard, an attachment supported by Hedwig. Armgard is, however, unable to accept his devotion, as she reveals that Franz Baldung, her true love, has joined a troop of mercenaries led by the violent Conrad von Wenckheim. Gottfried offers to help bring Franz back, but the peace is broken by the news that plundering mercenaries have attacked nearby farmsteads. The pillaging troops led by Conrad enter, singing of wine and women, along with Franz, delirious, having lost his memory after a blow to his head, and recalling little of his previous existence. Discovering that the soldiers have arrived on Armgard's name day, Conrad threatens to kill the family unless she sings for them. As Armgard sings she notices Franz among the soldiers. Franz begins to recover his memory, slowly awakens to his past and wants to intervene. Having sung the 'Vaterlandslied' Armgard faints, and Franz recognizes her.

Act 2

''Inside Hedwig's farmhouse'' Gottfried and the women lament the death of Armgard. The folk legend decrees that Armgard's ghost will go off at dusk to join elves at the enchanted stone in the forest. Hedwig reveals to Gottfried that she was abandoned by the father of Armgard. She hurries to the forest, hoping to find Armgard's shadow, swiftly followed by Gottfried. Franz enters and sings of his love, then Conrad also arrives, forcing Franz to come away to attack Ebernburg Palace. Gottfried has been captured and will be bribed to guide them to it. At nightfall Armgard, alive but in a trance, passes through the scene, wanting to save Franz.

Act 3

''The Elfenstein in the forest: rocks, waterfalls, pines – moonlight'' Elves and spirits dance and sing in the forest, where Hedwig appears. Armgard tries to pretend to her that she is a spirit, then hides. The men now arrive, expecting to be at the palace, and Conrad boasts of the licentious escapades of his youth. They then realize the trick Gottfried has played on them. He is tied up to be executed next day. Conrad is however sent into a trance by the song of the elves, and Hedwig cries out for revenge.

Act 4

''Kreuznach castle surrounded by rocks. Arms, gunpowder, cannons. Night.'' Soldiers prepare for an attack. After Franz has threatened suicide unless he sees Armgard, whom he thinks is now a fairy, she enters, explains all that has happened, and they are reconciled in their love. She tells him that their troubles have been a dream and their suffering will give way to renewed love. They leave. Hedwig is dragged in by soldiers. After interrogation she and Conrad recognize each other and she reveals that he is Armgard's father; he thinks he has killed her by forcing her to sing. Gottfried is brought in chains, but once his captors have gone Conrad frees him. Armgard, Franz, Hedwig, and Conrad decide to flee together, but the mercenaries rush in. The elves cast a spell after which some fall into a ravine, while others go off into the next valley. The palace, the local people and local fatherland are all saved.

Musical highlights

Rodney Milnes Rodney Milnes Blumer OBE (26 July 1936 – 5 December 2015) was an English music critic, musicologist, writer, translator and broadcaster, with a particular interest in opera.Rodney Milnes. ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera''. Macmillan, ...

notes several musical highlights in the score: the

overture Overture (from French ''ouverture'', "opening") in music was originally the instrumental introduction to a ballet, opera, or oratorio in the 17th century. During the early Romantic era, composers such as Beethoven and Mendelssohn composed overt ...

, with the calm 'barcarolle' contrasted with war-like music, Armgard's german: Vaterlandslied and Franz's entrance aria in act 1, Franz's 12/8 romance with horn plus a trio bouffe for three men in act 2, the ballet music and a duet for mother and daughter in act 3, and two powerful duets in the last act. The work concludes with a combination of the barcarolle and the german: Vaterlandslied. Its text is: O könnt' ich's allen sagen, Wie meine Pulse schlagen Für dich, mein Vaterland! Ich habe dir mein Leben, Mein Alles hingegeben. Ich nehm das Glas zur Hand Und trink' es dir und ruf' es laut: Du, Vaterland, bist meine Braut! Du liebes Land, du schönes Land! Du großes, deutsches Vaterland! Wer sollte dich nicht ehren, Nicht deinen Ruhm begehren, O Heimat hold und traut! Wo stolze Burgen thronen, Wo treue Menschen wohnen, Wo Sangeslust so laut: Da muss am schönen grünen Rhein Ein Leben voller Wonne sein! O liebes Land, o schönes Land, O schönes, großes, deutsches Vaterland! O if I were only able to tell everyone How my heart beats For thee, my fatherland! I have given thee my life, I have given thee everything. I take the glass And toast thee and shout loudly: Thou, my fatherland, art my bride! Thou art a lovely and beautiful country! Thou art my big, German fatherland! Who should not honour thee, Who should not crave thy glory, O, my dear country, comely and intimate! Where proud castles are enthroned, Where faithful people live, Where everyone loves to sing: There, on the beautiful green

Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , so ...

, Life must be full of delight! O lovely land, o beautiful land, O beautiful, big, German fatherland!

Recordings

Offenbach: ''Les fées du Rhin '' (in German) – Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier *Conductor:

*Principal singers:

, Nora Gubisch,

, Dalibor Jenis *Recording date: 2002 *Label: Universal / Accord CD 472 920-2Recordings
as listed on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk

References

Sources *
at web.archive.org

External links

Review of the Montpellier recording
by Salvatore Calomino, ''Opera Today'', 11 October 2005. Accessed 16 October 2020

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rheinnixen, Die Operas by Jacques Offenbach German-language operas Operas Romantische Opern 1864 operas Operas set in Germany German patriotic songs