OPERA - JOHANN STRAUSS II: SIMPLICIUS (ZURICH OPERA)

RECORDED LIVE FROM ZÜRICH OPERA

 JOHANN STRAUSS'S

SIMPLICIUS

 Libretto by Victor Leon

after motifs from the novel 'Der abentheurliche Simplicissimus Teutsch' (1668)

by Johann Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelhausen

Stage director.................................David Pountney

Conductor.................................Franz Welser-Möst

Designer............................................Johan Engels

Lighting.......................................Jürgen Hoffmann

Principal Cast

The Hermit, Wendelin von Grübben...........Michael Volle

Simplicius, his youngest son.....................Martin Zysset

General Vliessen.................................Rolf Haunstein

Hildegarde, his daughter.................Elizabeth Magnuson

Arnim von Grubben, Simplicius' brother......Piotr Beczala

Melchior, an astrologer.........................Oliver Widmer

Lotte................................................Louise Martini

Tilly, her daughter.............................Martina Janková

Master of the Watch..........................Cheyne Davidson

Ebba, a Swedish spy............................Liliana Nikiteanu

Chorus and Orchestra of the

Zurich Opera House

Directed for television by Thomas Grimm

SIMPLICIUS

The score of Johann Strauss the Younger's Simplicius was believed to have been destroyed but, when an incomplete and much-corrected copy was recently found among papers left by the librettist, Victor Leon, further investigation brought to light a second version in excellent condition, so that the work could be reconstructed, virtually as the composer originally intended.

 Based on Grimmelhausen's seventeenth-century picaresque novel, set during the Thirty Years' War, Simplicius is the ingenuous hero of a tortuous tale of concealed identities and thwarted love - which leads, of course, to a happy ending. The opera is a theatrical mixture of sung and spoken text and the richly varied score features enchanting melodies, spectacular choral and ensemble pieces, and authentic Straussian gems in 3/4 time.

 David Pountney's witty and ingenious staging for the Zurich Opera brings out the very best in the extraordinary and exceptional work, deftly merging the passages that achieve operatic splendour with those that are the melodramatic stuff of operetta. There is never a dull moment on stage. The piece bristles with life from the moment Simplicius arrives in the military encampment of General Vliessen and Johan Engels visually striking designs add a carnivalesque element to the macabre militaristic backdrop. In the black humour of his production, David Pountney plays up the incongruity of Simplicius's elements of light-hearted farce and its militaristic setting, nowhere better than in Act Three when the lovers are united beneath a gallows-tree, hung with corpses, that turns like a merry-go-round to an infinitely sweet Strauss waltz.

Franz Welser-Most conducts Strauss's richly-varied score with verve and panache and there are fine performances from the cast, including Michael Voller (the Hermit), Martin Zysset (Simplicius), Elizabeth Magnuson (Hildegarde), Piotr Beczala (Arnim), Martina Jankova (Tilly), Oliver Widmer (Melchior), and Liliana Nikiteanu (Ebba). 

SYNOPSIS 

The sequence of the musical numbers is based on the Budapest score of the second version and the text of the original version. Dialogue is based on the script of the original opening run at the Theater and der Wien.

INTRODUCTION

The brothers Bruno and Wendelin von Grubben were in love with the same woman. She chose the younger brother Wendelin, whereupon Bruno renounced his Catholic faith and went off to fight in the Thirty Years' War on the side of the heretics. When he was killed in battle, Wendelin blamed himself. He dispatched his wife and eldest son Arnim to a convent and, with his new-born second son, disappeared into the forest. His wife died in the convent, leaving a will stating that the Grubben fortune would only be inherited if a descendent were to marry a Countess von Vliessen. Otherwise the legacy would be left to the church. After the death of his mother, Arnim leaves the convent. 

ACT 1

The Hermit (Wendelin von Grubben) seeks solace in prayer. In the distance, trumpet calls can be heard from the battlefield, reminding him of his glorious days in the military.

The Hermit's peace is disturbed by the arrival of an astrologer and his Swedish companion. The astrologer introduces himself as Melchior, Baron von Grubben. He says he is on his way to General Vliessen, whose daughter, Hildegarde, he is about to marry in order to save the von Grubben's fortune. If he could provide proof that Wendelin and his youngest son Simplicius were not only missing but dead, there would be no further doubt about the legitimacy of his claim. Wendelin asks after the whereabouts of Arnim, the eldest of the von Grübben sons, and Melchior replies that there is no proof but he is certain all the von Grübbens are dead, for it is written in the stars.

To enable him to resist any future temptation to abandon his life of prayer, the Hermit gives Melchior a note, declaring that he and his youngest son have committed suicide, something he once considered.

No sooner has Melchior continued on his way, than Simplicius appears and excitedly tells his father about the "iron men" he has seen in the forest. The Hermit explains to the boy, who has led a life of seclusion and simplicity, that they are soldiers waging a cruel war. Suddenly the hermitage is attacked by a troop of men in armour, who have lost their way in the forest. Believing that the young savage Simplicius has been kidnapped, they overrun the hermitage. They separate the boy from his father and order him to guide them out of the forest. Wendelin is left in despair.

ACT 2

Dawn is breaking over the Olmutz military encampment, as the soldiers sing a song in praise of their calling. A troop of armoured cavalrymen enters, demanding refreshment. Tilly, daughter of Schnapslotte - Boozy Lotte - serves them brandy.

Simplicius, now a lowly baggage-carrier in the general's entourage, has not yet understood what soldiers are supposed to do and is treated with contempt by the other underlings, who are especially scornful of his habit of praying. Tilly, however, has taken him under her wing. Tilly tells him how to become a real soldier and suggests he might achieve this by capturing an enemy.

Melchior the astrologer enters and asks one of the general's aides to pass on a letter announcing his arrival. He says the stars have predicted a happy marriage, although he has not yet met his future wife, the general's daughter who has just arrived at the camp.

The next to arrive is Arnim. Having left the convent where he was brought up, he was attending university when the general enthusiasm for the war prompted him to leave his studies to join up. He has another reason for coming to General Vliessen's camp. In Prague, he fell in love with Hildegarde von Vliessen, and when she suddenly left the city there was no reason for him to remain. Moreover, as Baron von Grubben, he has the right to ask for her hand, although he promised his mother on her deathbed never to divulge his name.

The general is somewhat astonished to receive a letter from Melchior who intends to be his future son-in-law. Hildegarde pleads with her father not to force her to marry a stranger. He in turn points out why she must marry a Grubben.

Left alone, Hildegarde and Arnim confess their love for each other, although Hildegarde claims that this can never be, since she is to be married to a stranger. The scene is witnessed by Simplicius who calls everyone in the camp together. The general is enraged to hear that the young couple has met, but Arnim wastes no time asking for Hildegarde's hand, revealing that he is the Baron von Grubben. Believing that the young man is the same Melchior from whom he has received a letter, the delighted General immediately announces the engagement.

In the midst of the rejoicing is Simplicius, leading Melchior on the end of a rope. He claims to have apprehended this enemy in the camp and says he must be hanged immediately. Confusion reigns when Melchior tells the general that he is the Baron von Grubben.

Then a dispatch arrives from the Imperial Council in Vienna, stating that suspicious Swedish letters have been discovered at Baron von Grubben's home in Vienna and the baron should be arrested. Melchior rejects the accusations. Arnim denies all knowledge of the affair. Both are put under arrest. Simplicius is appointed standard-bearer.

ACT 3

The courtyard of Hanau Castle, six months later.

A band of enraged peasants is hunting for Simplicius, who has repeatedly tricked them. He claims he can explain all his alleged misdeeds, but for the moment he is put under arrest.

Arnim and Melchior are about to reach an agreement - Arnim will marry Hildegarde and renounce the Grubben fortune in Melchior's favour.

An order has just been received from the Imperial Council in Vienna. It seems to have taken two years to reach its destination. The order states that an urgent search is on for a wild young man named Simplicius. Whoever captures him should treat him with great respect, for he is none other that the son of the rightful Baron Wendelin von Grubben.

The general promotes Simplicius to the rank of Lieutenant and promises him a great career as his son-in-law. Simplicius has nothing against marriage, it is something he always intended to try out. Tilly is deeply shocked by Simplicius's declaration and wonders what love is all about. Simplicius cannot answer that one, but seems quite happy when Tilly secretly declares her love for him.

Melchior runs into Lotte, to whom he has given a love potion, asking her to administer it to Hildegarde. However, Lotte, whose husband went missing twenty years ago, is convinced that this stranger is her runaway spouse and has drunk it herself. Recognising him by a mark on his neck, she throws her arms around the extremely reluctant Melchior who is forced to give in - his stars had promised him something of the sort, anyway.

The Swedish troupe arrives and entertains the company with songs. Ebba, the Swedish spy identifies Melchior as the addressee of the letters, Arnim is set free. Simplicius longs to go home in the forest. The others follow him. They meet Simplicius father who is happy to see his son alive. His wife's will is invalid now. Therefore the young couple - Tilly and Simplicius, Hildegarde and Arnim - can live happily ever after.