THE TRUMPETER OF SAKKINGEN " The Trumpeter of Sakkingen," an opera in three acts and a prologue, with music by Victor E. Nessler and text based on J. Victor von Scheffel's poem, with several original songs added by the librettist, Rudolf Bunge, was produced at the Stadt Theatre, Leipzig, May 4, 1884.
Werner Kirchoffer, a law student, afterward a trum peter.
Conradin, army trumpeter and recruiting officer. The Baron of Schiinau.
Maria, his daughter.
The Count of Wildenstein.
His divorced wife, the Baron's sister-in-law.
Damian, the Count's son by his second marriage. Steward of the Electress' household.
The Rector of Heidelberg University.
Students, soldiers, citizens, peasants, school children, knights, members of the May ballet and many others.
The time of the opera is during the latter part of the Thirty Years' War and just after its conclusion. The prologue is played in the courtyard of Heidelberg at night, where the soldiers and students are lustily singing one of the many panegyrics dedicated to that famous collegiate town.
Old Heidelberg victorious In honors rich and rare, No other town so glorious On Rhine, or Neckar fair.
Thou town of jolly fellows, Of wisdom ripe and wine, Bright roll thy merry billows, Blue eyes upon them shine.
Werner, a law student, and chief among the " jolly fellows " takes up the strain alone, followed by Conradin, an old trumpeter and a recruiting officer. A college steward interrupts the music and expostulates with the noisy students for disturbing the slumbers of the Electress. The spirit of mischief prompts them to direct their tunefulness to the lady in a serenade. Werner takes the trumpet from Con radin's hands and the soldiers and students sing in chorus with trumpet interludes. So skilfully is the latter done, that the recruiting officer, declaring that such good material should not be wasted on the desert air of a college, tries to persuade Werner to enlist but the youth declines to be caught by a bit of flattery.
The steward. who has made repeated demands for a cessation of the noise, engages the aid of the Rector Magnificus, with the result that all the students are expelled.
The dashing Werner, not half sorry to be " dispossessed of debts and lawbooks," enlists in the army, with which inci dent the prelude closes.
In the first act, for which we are taken to Sakkingen, the peasants are celebrating the fete of Saint Fridolini. Werner appears just in time to protect the Countess and her niece from the rudeness of certain mutinous peasants. Love at first sight ensues between the handsome trumpeter and the lovely Maria. The Countess, too, is impressed with the bearing of the young man, but her warmth is cooled when she learns that he was a foundling brought up by gypsies and afterwards adopted by a college professor. This vividly recalls to her the sad fact that her own son, who would be about Werner's age, was kidnaped in childhood by a roving tribe.
While Conradin and Werner escort the ladies to the church where the fete-day ceremonies are in progress, the scene changes to the apartment of the Baron of Schonau, who, owing to a bad attack of gout, is a prisoner at home. He is diverted by a letter from Count Wildenstein, the divorced husband of his sister, the Countess, who, his second wife having recently died, hopes to effect a recon ciliation with the first one, from whom he has been sepa rated by unprincipled persons. He also suggests a union between Maria and Damian, a son by the second marriage. The Baron is delighted, for the match is desirable from the viewpoint of both family and wealth.
The Countess and Maria return to relate their adventure. The Baron regrets the death of his faithful old trumpeter, whose vigilance had afforded such protection to the lonely, badly guarded castle. The trumpet of Werner is heard in the distance. At the enthusiastic recommendation of Maria he is sent for and speedily wins the approval of the Baron, who engages his services.