Feuersnot

Feuersnot (Need for (or lack of) fire), Op. 50, is a Singgedicht (sung poem) or opera in one act by Richard Strauss. The German libretto was written by Ernst von Wolzogen, based on J. Ketel's report "Das erloschene Feuer zu Audenaerde". It was Strauss' second opera.

Synopsis

 * Place: Medieval Munich
 * Time: Midsummer Night

During the Midsummer Solstice festival, lovers swear to be faithful by leaping through the flames of a bonfire (known traditionally as Johannisfeuer, St John's Eve Fire). Love is in the air and children are collecting firewood for the solstice fire.

A sorcerer, Kunrad, has appeared in the city, taking over the house of an old sorcerer. His presence disturbs the people and leads to much speculation. Much to everyone's surprise, he offers the children his house for the solstice fire. The Mayor's daughter Diemut and her three friends are intrigued by Kunrad, and the friends find him rather attractive. Diemut is less impressed. Kunrad himself is more attracted to Diemut.

To everyone's shock he approaches Diemut and kisses her in public. She rebuffs him, but plots her revenge for the insult. She promises to bring him up to her room in a basket. He agrees, but she leaves him hanging halfway up. In retaliation, he quenches all the festival bonfires and denounces the people as philistines. He lays down a condition: the only way to restore the fires is via "the body of a virgin in heat", which shocks the populace. However, after some thought they persuade Diemut to yield to Kunrad. She does so, and after she has her first-ever sexual experience (depicted in the orchestral "love scene"), with a light glowing in her room, the fires are restored and Diemut and Kunrad emerge singing a love song.

Musical numbers

 * "Gebts uns a Holz zum Subendefeuer" - chorus
 * "Eia, Kind'ln grüss Euch Gott!" - Ortolf Sentlinger, Diemut, Margret, Wigelis, Elsbeth, chorus
 * "Heilinga Veit, schenk' uns a Scheit!" - chorus
 * "Lassts den seltsamen Nachbarn aus" - Jörg Pöschel, Kunz Gilgenstock, Hämmerlein, Ortlieb Tulbeck, chorus
 * "Als Herzog Heinrich mit dem Löwen kam" - Ortlieb Tulbeck, Ursula, Kofel, Kunrad, chorus
 * "Der Herr ist wohl ein rarer Christ" - Elsbeth, Wigelis, Margret, Kunrad
 * "Heissa! Heller lichten loht das Feuerlein!" - Jörg Pöschel, Ursula, Kunz Gilgenstock, Hämmerlein, Ruger Aspeck, Ortlieb Tulbeck, Walpurg, Margret, Wiselis, Elsbeth, chorus
 * "Heia! Gutgesell, sauber und jung!" - Margret, Elsbeth, Wigelis, Diemut, Ortolf Sentlinger, Kunrad
 * "Pfuch! Schamts Eich, Junker Übermut!" - Ortolf Sentlinger, Hämmerlein, Kunz Gilgenstock, Ruger Aspeck, Jörg Pöschel, Walpurg, Ortlieb Tulbeck, chorus
 * "Bist net recht gscheit!" - Elsbeth, Wigelis, Diemut, Margret, chorus
 * "Unnütze, lasst das Gerzerr!" - Ortolf Sentlinger, Schweiker von Gundelfingen, Diemut, chorus
 * "Feuersnot! Minnegebot!" - Kunrad, Schweiker von Gundelfingen, Diemut, chorus
 * "Leise, leise lasst uns schauen" - Margret, Elsbeth, Wigelis, Kunrad, Diemut, chorus
 * "Herr Kunrad, dass mich der Deixel hol!" - Schweiker von Gundelfingen, Margret, Elsbeth, Wigelis, Ortolf Sentlinger, Kunrad, chorus
 * "Höllenspuk! Satanstrug!" - Walpurg, Ortlieb Tulbeck, Ursula, Ruger Aspeck, Kofel, Schweiker von Gundelfingen, Ortolf Sentlinger, Hämmerlein, Kunz Gilgenstock, Jörg Pöschel, chorus
 * "Oh weh, Herr Schweiker von Gunedlfing" - Kunrad
 * "Habt Ihr's gehört?" - Ortlieb Tulbeck, Ruger Aspeck, Kofel, Hämmerlein, Kunz Gilgenstock, Jörg Pöschel, Walpurg, Ursula, Margret, Elsbeth, Wigelis, Schweiker von Gundelfingen, chorus
 * "Still doch! Mir ist, vom Kammerlein brach hervor" - Ortolf Sentlinger, Diemut, Kunrad, chorus