An enchanting love story from Goethe's early years, which inspired him to write his world-famous "Heidenröslein".
The young student Johann Wolfgang von Goethe falls in love with the vicar's daughter Friederike in Sesenheim in Alsace. His brief, intense love inspires him to write verses such as "Mädchen, mein Mädchen" and "Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein steh'n". He then receives a job offer from the court in distant Weimar, which is conditional on his remaining celibate. So Friederike renounces her love, as she does not want to stand in the way of Goethe's career.
Years later, Goethe visits Sesenheim once again with Grand Duke Karl August. He wanted to show the prince the scene of his great love and the place where Heidenröslein was written. He also visits the vicarage and meets Friederike, who has still not overcome the pain of her separation.
The premiere in Berlin in 1928 featured a star-studded cast and was a triumph for Lehár: Richard Tauber as Goethe and Käthe Dorsch as Friederike helped the piece to become an overwhelming success, which was performed over four hundred times and led to performances throughout Germany.
Premiere December 16, 2023
Further performances: December 17, 22 and 28, January 4, 6, 13, 14, 20, 21 and 26 and March 15, 2024
