''Liebe und Eifersucht'' (''Love and Jealousy'') is a ''

Singspiel A Singspiel (; plural: ; ) is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk-like ...

'', an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

with spoken dialogue, in three acts by the German composer and author E. T. A. Hoffmann, composed in 1807 on his own

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 ...

based on the translation by

August Wilhelm Schlegel August Wilhelm (after 1812: von) Schlegel (; 8 September 176712 May 1845), usually cited as August Schlegel, was a German poet, translator and critic, and with his brother Friedrich Schlegel the leading influence within Jena Romanticism. His trans ...

of a play by

Calderón Calderón () is a Spanish and Sefardi occupational surname. It is derived from the Vulgar Latin "''caldaria''" ("cauldron") and refers to the occupation of tinker. Calderón, or Calderon, may refer to: * Alberto Calderón, Argentine mathematician ...

. The opera was first published by Schott in 1999, and premiered at the 2008

Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele The Ludwigsburg Festival (''Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele'', also ''Internationale Festspiele Baden-Württemberg'') is a culture festival with programs in music, dance, theatre and literature. The festival is held in Ludwigsburg annually betwee ...

History

The author Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann was interested in music, wanted originally to become a musician, and added Amadeus to his names in honour of Mozart. He composed one successful opera in 1816, ''

Undine Undines (; also ondines) are a category of elemental beings associated with water, stemming from the alchemical writings of Paracelsus. Later writers developed the undine into a water nymph in its own right, and it continues to live in modern ...

'', which became a major influence on the development of German Romantic opera. He wrote his own

for the earlier work ''Liebe und Eifersucht'', based on

's translation of a play by

Pedro Calderón de la Barca Pedro Calderón de la Barca y Barreda González de Henao Ruiz de Blasco y Riaño (, ; ; 17 January 160025 May 1681) was a Spanish dramatist, poet, writer and knight of the Order of Santiago. He is known as one of the most distinguished Baroque ...

, ''La banda y la flor'' (''The Scarf and the Flower''). Hoffmann composed the opera in 1807. The opera was not performed in Hoffmann's lifetime. It was first published by Schott in 1999. and premiered at the

on 27 July 2008, at the Forum am Schlosspark in

Ludwigsburg Ludwigsburg (; Swabian: ''Ludisburg'') is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, about north of Stuttgart city centre, near the river Neckar. It is the largest and primary city of the Ludwigsburg district with about 88,000 inhabitants. It is ...

, in a coproduction with the

Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz The Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz (''State Theatre at Gärtnerplatz''), commonly called the Gärtnerplatztheater, is an opera house and opera company in Munich. (The "Gärtnerplatz" is an urban square in the borough Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt.) ...

in Munich, where it was first performed on 27 September that year.

Michael Hofstetter Michael Hofstetter (born 6 September 1961) is a German conductor and academic. He was chief conductor of the festival Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele from 2005 to 2012, and has been Generalmusikdirektor of Gießen since. He has worked internation ...

, who staged a series of revivals of rarely played operas, conducted the Ludwigsburg Festival orchestra and singers from the Gärtnerplatztheater in performances and a recording. The first production in Switzerland was mounted in Zurich in 2016 by the Free Opera Company, with dialogues in more modern German and a reduced orchestra, conducted by Emmanuel Siffert.

Roles and music

The action takes place in Florence. The plot is marked by confusions in relationships, caused partly by disguise and by misunderstanding of signs and tokens of love. The music was described as inspired by Mozart, "everywhere marked by understanding and craftsmanship – and nowhere distinguished by genius."

References

External links

E.T.A. Hoffmann – Liebe Und Eifersucht
Discogs
E.T.A. Hoffmann: Liebe Und Eifersucht / Hofstetter, Sellier, Gerstberger, Simson, Specht, Martin
ArkivMusic {{Authority control Romantische Opern German-language operas 1807 operas Operas Works by E. T. A. Hoffmann Operas based on plays Operas based on works by Pedro Calderón de la Barca