Seite 1
Der Stein der Weisen
11:03 Uhr
Der Stein der Weisen oder Die Zauberinsel Emanuel Schikaneder Johann Baptist Henneberg Benedikt Schack Franz Xaver Gerl Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
opernhaus z端rich Spielzeit 2010/11
31.8.2010
www.gassmann-mode.ch www.akris.ch
PH_"Stein_der_Weisen"_US:PH_Stein der Weisen
opernhaus zürich
Act One The inhabitants of an Arcadian island have gathered to give sacrifice to Astromonte, their guardian spirit. Sadik, the lord of the island, notices that his foster son Nadir and his daughter Nadine are not at the ceremony. Together with the woodsman Lubano and his new wife Lubanara (who have unlawfully married), they arrive late at the island’s shrine with their offerings. The other worshippers flee in horror: an old custom says that only virgin women and men may enter Astromonte’s shrine. Lubanara complains to Lubano about having to stay at home while he goes hunting. Lubano, for his part, is suspicious: he fears that his wife might spend her time with other men while he is gone. Lubanara will go to any lengths to stave off her boredom, and the threat of having to face up to the might of Eutifronte, the spirit of the Underworld, cuts little ice. Lubano reflects on his moody new wife. Sadik punishes Lubano for his temple transgression by taking away his hunting weapons. Lubanara’s fate he puts in Astromonte’s hands. Sadik fears that Astromonte may direct his wrath at his children, too, and has a creeping suspicion that Astromonte may take Nadine away. Suddenly, a genie appears to announce that Astromonte will soon arrive. As a gift, the genie gives Sadik a bird that Astromonte wishes to present to the most innocent girl on the island. The girls immediately argue over who this may be; but the genie interrupts them to say that the girl who wins the bird will be the one it starts to sing to. Lubanara has hopes of being carried away in Astromonte’s cloud-chariot, too. But Lubano has been listening, and locks her into their hut before he leaves. Lubanara calls upon the fearsome Eutifronte, Astromonte’s brother, to free her. Eutifronte rises up out of the Earth and does so. When Lubano returns, he threatens to beat Eutifronte unless he leaves. Eutifronte does so, but takes Lubanara back with him to the Underworld, while Lubano suddenly grows antlers. When Eutifronte’s hunters appear and try to kill the “stag”, Lubano flees. Nadir is afraid that Astromonte may be so taken by Nadine’s beauty that he might abduct her. Both want to flee; but suddenly they hear Astromonte’s voice, threatening Nadine with death should she attempt this. The islanders urge Sadik to begin proceedings with the bird. To universal disappointment, it does not sing to anyone. Only when it is Nadine’s turn does it start to do so. Nadine is congratulated on this gift from Astromonte, who appears soon after in his cloudchariot to accept his sacrifices. As he is about to leave, the bird sings again, and Astromonte asks which of the shepherdesses has won his gift. Astromonte takes Nadine and disappears in his chariot. See thing with anger and despair, Sadik and Nadir demand Nadine’s return from their alleged guardian spirit. Lubano, meanwhile, calls upon Eutifronte to give his wife back, too. Preparations are made to set off after the cloud-chariot.
Act Two The islanders seeking Eutifronte are caught in a storm and sink into the sea. Eutifronte boasts at having destroyed Astromonte’s servants. The genie admonishes him, however: he is not allowed to destroy humanity. Lubano has survived the shipwreck. He reflects on all the trouble his love has caused him, and on having to rush around the world like a madman to find his wife again. Nadir, who has also survived the shipwreck, curses Astromonte in a dream. When he awakens, Eutifronte is there. Eutifronte explains that he is Astromonte’s brother, and tells their story: he and his brother are the sons of a famous philosopher and magician. Eutifronte fell out with his older brother over who should inherit the all-powerful Philosophers’ Stone, and cursed him so much that the father decided that neither should have it. Instead, he locked the stone away, and told them that it would only ever be inherited by one of their sons. At the time, both brothers were in love with a princess. Astromonte took her as his wife. She bore him a son, but Eutifronte had him killed. The princess died of grief over her lost child. As a consolation, Astromonte’s father gave him the magic bird, which will attract anyone or anything Astromonte wishes. Eutifronte finishes by telling Nadir that he will only get Nadine back if he kills Astromonte using a magic sword which Eutifronte will forge for the purpose. Lubano is ranging about the island, hungry and bemoaning his fate. All he can find is a book full of proverbs, which tells him that only through patience and perseverance will he find happiness and contentment. Lubanara appears and tells Lubano how she has stood up to Eutifronte. Now she wants to warn Nadir, to prevent him becoming a powerless tool of Eutifronte’s revenge and killing Astromonte. Eutifronte towarts her, though, and gives her the voice of a cat. Lubano and Lubanara resolve to seek out Eutifronte, to get him to pardon them and break the spell. Eutifronte tells Nadir that hewill be handed themagic sword of revenge in the Vaults of Terror. But Nadir is having doubts about winning Nadine back by taking and using the sword. Lubano and Lubanara appear, and all three are delighted to see each other again. The joy is short-lived, however, as seven hammer-blows summon Nadir into the Vaults of Terror. For his battle against Astromonte, Eutifronte also gives Nadir a magic deatharrow with which he can even kill the magic bird. When Nadir hears the bird – an indication of where Nadine must be – he sets off to follow the sound. Lubano, left behind, muses on love’s moods. Nadine, meanwhile, is beginning to doubt Nadir’s love. Arriving at Astromonte’s palace, Nadir finds the magic bird and attempts to kill it. His arrowhits Nadine, however, fatally wounding her. Nadir curses Eutifronte, and the genie urges him to flee the scene.
Eutifronte takes on the appearance of Lubano, to encourage Nadir to kill his friend, too. Nadir falls for Eutifronte’s deception, and is about to strike Lubano downwith the sword when Astromonte stops him. He promises Nadir both the bird and Nadine’s life back if he will give him the sword. Sadik and all the other followers who perished at sea would be returned to life, too. Astromonte also reveals Nadir’s true identity to him: he is his lost son. Eutifronte’s people did not kill him; they cast him out to sea in a cradle. Eutifronte and all his demons are outraged and threaten Nadir, who hands the sword to his father Astromonte. At this moment the genie appears, and gives Nadir the Philosophers’ Stone. Nadine and Sadik come back to life. Astromonte orders Eutifronte to leave the country: only when his heart has mended will he embrace him once more as a brother. Lubano and Lubanara are released from their spell; and everyone thanks Astromonte, and asks for his protection for Nadir and Nadine’s wedding.
opernhaus z端rich