Die beide Neffen

"Die beide Neffen" (The Two Nephews), also known as "Der Onkel aus Boston" (The Uncle from Boston), is a three act Singspiel by Felix Mendelssohn to a libretto by Johann Ludwig Casper.

Background

"Die beide Neffen" was written by between May 1822 and 1823, during which time Mendelssohn celebrated his fourteenth birthday. The libretto was by Casper who had provided books for his three previous Singspiels, "Die Soldatenliebschaft" (Soldier's Love) (1820), "Die beide Pädagogen" (The Two Teachers) (1821) and "Die wandernden Komödianten" (The Roving Actors) (1822). "Die beide Neffen" was the last of their collaborations. These pieces were designed for performance within the family circle at the musical gatherings regularly organised by Felix's father Abraham Mendelssohn. "Die beide Neffen" was performed in the garden house of the Mendelssohn family on or around Felix's 15th birthday (3rd February, 1824). Like Mendelssohn's other juvenile operas, the work shows the influence of Mozart and Carl Maria von Weber, but without any of the individuality which began to show in the later "Die Hochzeit des Camacho".

The dialogue for the third act has been lost, but has been reconstructed, enabling the first modern performances; on 3rd October 2004 (concert performance in Essen), and on 14th April 2007 (staged performance, Pfalztheater, Kaiserslautern). There is also a CD recording conducted by Helmuth Rilling [Bach Collegium Stuttgart, cond. Helmuth Rilling, Hanssler Classics (2005).] .

Roles

ynopsis

Brandenburg in the 1780s. Baron von Felsig has returned unexpectedly from New England. The consequent problems of mistaken identities and misunderstandings fill out an undistinguished storyline leading to a traditional happy ending.

Notes

ources

*Oxford Music Online
*James L. Zychowitz, "Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Der Onkel aus Boston" (review), [http://www.operatoday.com/content/2005/09/mendelssohn_bar.php Opera Today, 30 September 2005]

External Links

* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tA-j9rFfVws Helmuth Rilling conducts the overture to "Der Onkel aus Boston" (YouTube)]
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9M4kTMl84C8 Extract from 1st act of same performance (YouTube)]