Die beiden Neffen


Die beiden Neffen, also known as Der Onkel aus Boston, is a three-act Singspiel by Felix Mendelssohn to a libretto by Johann Ludwig Casper.

Background

Die beiden Neffen was written by between May 1822 and 1823, during which time Mendelssohn celebrated his fourteenth birthday. The libretto was by Casper who had provided books for his three previous Singspiels, Die Soldatenliebschaft , Die beiden Pädagogen and Die wandernden Komödianten . Die beiden Neffen was the last of their collaborations. These pieces were designed for performance within the family circle at the musical gatherings regularly organised by Felix's father Abraham Mendelssohn. Die beiden Neffen was performed in the garden house of the Mendelssohn family on or around Felix's 15th birthday. Like Mendelssohn's other juvenile operas, the work shows the influence of Mozart and Carl Maria von Weber, but without any of the individuality which began to show in the later Die Hochzeit des Camacho.
The dialogue for the third act has been lost, but has been reconstructed, enabling the first modern performances; on 3 October 2004, and on 14 April 2007. There is also a CD recording conducted by Helmuth Rilling.

Roles

Synopsis

in the 1780s. Baron von Felsig has returned unexpectedly from New England. The consequent problems of mistaken identities and misunderstandings fill out an undistinguished storyline leading to a traditional happy ending.

Recordings

Die beiden Neffen oder Der Onkel aus Boston, Kate Royal, Lothar Odinius, Carsten Süß, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmut Rilling, Hänssler Classics, 2004