DIE VÖGEL (THE BIRDS)

Lyric Fantasy in two acts by Walter Braunfels (1882 - 1954) after Aristophanes.
In 1920, the year of the opera's first performance in Munich, its audience was lifted out of its post-war misery. Bruno Walter, who conducted that performance, described it in his memoirs 'as an inspired and intelligent operatic metamorphoses of Aristophanes' comedy' and as one of the great life enhancing experiences in the bleak period after World War 1.

Cast

Overture and Prologue

After a short orchestral introduction, the audience is welcomed by the Nightingale into the happy and untroubled realm of the birds. Here there are no cares, no pain and no hatred: only happiness and true, tender love, but with the sweet torment of longing.

Act One

Two travellers have left the city in search of the land of their dreams, the realm of the birds. Ratefreund (Loyal Friend), led by a crow, wants to get away from the decadence of Art; Hoffegut (Good Hope), carrying a jackdaw on his wrist, wishes to forget his aching heart. They encounter Zaunschlupfer (Wren), who calls Wiedhopf (Hoopoe), the king of the birds, over to join them. Wiedhopf, who was once a man himself, laments the fact that the birds no longer have any kingdom of their own. Ratefreund has a solution ready: the birds should build their own citadel between heaven and earth and starve the gods out by imposing a heavy tax on the smoke from the sacrifices that men offer, on which the gods rely for nourishment. Delighted with this plan, Wiedhopf has the Nightingale call all the birds together. These fall upon the two humans with their sharp beaks; but Wiedhopf calls on them to stop and makes them listen to Ratefreund's suggestion: that by building a citadel they might regain their power over earth and sky. The birds are filled with enthusiasm at the thought of ruling over the universe once more, and set to work immediately.

Act Two

On the moonlit heath, by bubbling springs, Hoffegut lies asleep. There the Nightingale's song of longing reaches his ear. He awakes and manages to woo the little bird into his arms. She kisses him, and the two of them listen blissfully to the voices of the night. Overwhelmed by this extraordinary moment of fulfilment, Hoffegut falls to the ground in a faint. At daybreak the Nightingale flutters off back into the forest. The splendid walls of the citadel are gleaming in the morning sunlight. The birds are merrily celebrating the wedding of a pair of doves. Then Prometheus appears and warns the birds not to oppose the will of Zeus, as he once did. But the proud birds will not listen to his warning; they prepare themselves for war. In a terrible storm, the whole city of the birds is destroyed. The birds acknowledge their sinful arrogance and, full of repentance, pay homage to the omnipotent god. The two humans return chastened to their city. Ratefreund finds contentment in the pleasures of domesticity; Hoffegut feels that the Nightingale's kiss has eternally, beautifully transformed him.