The Little Mermaid (Die kleine Meerjungfrau)
for actor and chamber orchestra (or chamber ensemble)
| Duration: | 36 min |
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| Instrumentation: | The work is available in two formats: 1. Chamber Ensemble: Actor, Flute (doubles Piccolo), Clarinet, Percussion (1), Two Pianos, and String Quintet (two Violins, Viola, Cello and Double Bass) 2. Chamber Orchestra: Actor, Flute (doubles Piccolo), Clarinet, Percussion (1), Two Pianos and Strings Section. |
The Story:
The Little Mermaid is one of the most beloved children stories written by Hans Christian Andersen. It tells the story of the little mermaid, the young daughter of the sea king, who at the age of 15 leaves the deep water to the haunting sea-surface and saves a prince from drowning, as his ship is struck by a storm. She falls in love with the prince but can not reach him or talk to him. deeply in love with the prince, she decides to consult the sea-witch, who gives her human legs for the price of her beautiful voice. The sea-witch also tells her that in case the prince will marry another girl, the Little Mermaid will turn into sea-foam the day after the wedding. The Little Mermaid agrees.
Able to walk, she finally meets the prince and radiate happiness. The prince, though, likes The Little Mermaid, but does not know that she is the one who saved his life from drowning. He plans to marry another girl – a princess. A wedding voyage to a distant kingdom is arranged and the wedding is set. desperately in love, The Little Mermaid fears for her life, and asks only, to return home to her family. Suddenly, her sisters appear out to the surface of the water. They her a knife and encourage her to kill the prince and save her life. She approaches the sleeping prince – but can not kill him. The next morning she turns into sea-foam, yet suddenly feel how she is being carried up the sky to become an fairy. As a good fairy, she who watches the prince from above and protects him.
[This is the original story and ending of Hans Christian Andersen, unlike the Disney version.]
| Year Composed: |
2006 |
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| Story By: |
Hans Christian Andersen |
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| Libretto by: |
Lior Navok |
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| Language: |
The work can be translated to any local language. Currently available languages: English: translation by Evan Fallenberg |
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| Commissioned by: |
Sommerkonzerte (AUDI) | |
| Written for: |
The Silver-Garburg Piano Duo | |
| Premiere Performance: |
28 July 2007 Neuburg, Germany The Silver-Garburg Piano Duo: Sivan Silver and Gil Garburg Hans Jürgen Schatz, actor soloists from the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra; Sommerkonzerte (AUDI) |
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| Additional Information: | The Little Mermaid, based on well-known story of Hans Christian Andersen, tells the story of the Little Mermaid, who fell in love with a prince and tried through self-scarification to fulfill her love. The work is used the original ending and not the Disney ending. The music is lush, portraying the depths of the sea with the help of two pianos. It is based on the instrumentation of of Saint-Saens’ Le carnaval des animaux -Carnival the Animals, and family concerts for aged 5-10 years old. | |
| Reviews: | Australian Stage Frankfurter Neue Presse (German) South China Morning Post Rhein-Main.Net (German) |
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| Performance History: | ||
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