OPERA SEARCH
Nils Holgerssons wundersame Abenteuer
(2023)Libretto by Susanne Felicitas Wolf after Selma Lagerlöf (G)
1.picc.1.corA.1.bcl.2-2.2.2.1-perc(2)-harp-pft-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Bote & Bock
Schillertheater, Berlin
Ruth Brauer-Kvam, director
Conductor: Erina Yashima
Company: Komische Oper Berlin
| Nils Holgersson | (young) Tenor |
| Morten, a (farm) goose, his friend | Tenor |
| Akka of Kebnekaise, leader of the wild geese | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Smirre, the fox | Baritone |
| Isatter Kajsa, a troll queen / Peasant woman | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Karen Nilsson, Nils’s mother / Lillemor, a loon female | Soprano |
| Ville Vatte, a dwarf | Bass |
| Holger Nilsson, Nils’s father / Olle, a sea eagle | Baritone |
| Yksi, Kaksi & Kuusi | Soli from chorus (with speaking part) |
| Choir of the geese | Soli from chorus |
| Choir of the rats, Choir of the sea birds | Children’s chorus |
Much to his parents’ distress, Nils Holgersson, instead of making himself useful on the family farm, prefers to hang around and torments the animals. Above all, he spends a lot of time brooding and wondering who he really is. When Nils catches a household sprite, the sprite shrinks him as a punishment. However, as a result Nils finds he can suddenly understand the language of the geese. Out of fear of his parents and spurred on by the call of the wild geese, Nils flies north on the back of Marten, the farm’s gander. Marten’s wild relatives initially reject the two, but when Nils saves the flock of geese from the voracious fox Smirre they continue their journey together.
On their way, they learn of the plight at Glimmingehuus Castle. Their friends, the ravens, crows and mice, have had to flee and rats have seized power. Once again, Nils is able to help as he knows how to play the flute, which is the only remedy against rats. And he splints the broken wing of the goose Daunenfein, who then also falls in love with Marten. The animals now want to put in a good word for him with the elf. But during the next stage of their journey, Nils tumbles off Marten’s back in a storm and falls to the ground. There, a flock of seabirds lament that farmers want to drain their pond. The sea eagle has stolen a farmer’s child to take revenge. Nils bravely tries to snatch the prey away from him. Backtracking in search of him, the wild geese assist him and secure the return of the child. The happy mother promises to preserve the birds’ habitat.
Once in Lapland, the travellers reach the realm of the Troll Queen. She defeats Smirre, who is still hunting the geese – and out of remorse he now wants to turn vegetarian. Everyone celebrates in troll fashion, but Nils is homesick. According to the deceitful spirit’s plan, the curse on Nils will be lifted as soon as he returns home, but instead Marten is to be slaughtered. Nils once again stands up for his friend, and the wild geese bid him a happy farewell. Nils now knows who he is and of what he is capable.
Poetic, Romantic