Cardillac

In the performance of the first edition of the opera (1925/26), the orchestra was represented by the following instruments: 2 flutes, 2 piccolo flutes, 1 oboe, 1 English horn, 1 clarinet, 1 bass clarinet, 1 tenor saxophone, 2 bassoon, 1 contra bassoon, 1 forest horn, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani, drums (for 5 musicians: triangle, bell, small gong, tomtom, snare drum, snare drum), piano, 6 violins, 4 violas, 4 cello, 4 double bass.

• Jeweler Cardillac (baritone)
• Daughter (soprano)
• Officer (tenor)
• Gold Merchant (bass)
• Cavalier (tenor)
• Court lady (soprano)
• Chief of Police (high bass)

King, courtiers, policemen, townspeople .

The opera takes place in Paris in 1680.

Action One

Scene one : The square in front of the house of the jeweler Cardillac is filled with crowds of excited people. For several weeks now, mysterious night killings and robberies have been taking place in the city. The townspeople are frightened by these incidents, their exclamations and demands “ To seize and delay! »Call on the authorities for decisive action. The police chief reads the king’s decree establishing a special criminal court. When a wealthy jeweler appears at his home, the crowd deliberately misses it. At the same time, from the conversation of the young gentleman who is here with the lady of his heart, it turns out that the victims of the unknown killer are exclusively Cardillac's customers - people who bought the jewelry he created from him. And although a certain Curse hangs over the buyers, Cardillac’s customers are not diminishing - his skill is so perfect. The court lady, wanting to test the young man in love with her, asks him to buy some elegant little thing for her from the jeweler. The cavalier immediately goes to the shop.

Scene two : The bedroom of the court lady, who is napping in anticipation of her lover. A young man appears in her room with a golden belt of extraordinary beauty. Suddenly, behind his back, a woman sees a sinister shadow in a mask and a black cloak soundlessly flying through the window, the floors of which are fluttering like the wings of a bat. A stranger grabs a golden belt and kills a gentleman’s dagger with a blow, then hides in an open window.

Action Two

Scene Three : Jeweler's workshop. Cardillac creates a new decoration. At this time, his old acquaintance, a dealer in precious metals and a supplier, enters the room. He is terribly frightened and excited by a new crime. Involuntarily, he begins to suspect Cardillac in connection with them. The merchant thinks that the jeweler entered into a terrible deal with the Devil, who helped Cardillac master such a perfect art. Such art and beauty is undoubtedly cursed by God and serves as destruction for people. The merchant decides to track down Cardillac, and when he leaves the house at midnight, he quietly follows him. In the workshop there remains only the daughter of a jeweler, waiting for his lover, an officer. When he comes and offers the girl to run with him (the carriage below is already prepared!), She hesitates for a while, but then refuses. Father’s harsh power over her is too strong. The saddened officer leaves. Upon returning, the jeweler completely indifferently agrees to the marriage of his daughter with an unknown person. Human destinies are absolutely indifferent to him. The main thing is serving the Art.

Suddenly the silence of the night is broken by the clatter and loud voices. The king of France enters the workshop, surrounded by his retinue. The jeweler proudly places his masterpieces in front of them. However, as soon as someone, having examined the jewelry, shows a tendency to buy something, Cardillac with an incomprehensible haste immediately hides the thing he likes. Even the golden belt that attracted the king, he hides out of sight. Visitors perplexedly leave the workshop. The jeweler is relieved to see all of his treasures - because if something had been bought, he would have to kill the new owner and regain his lost beauty.

Suddenly a new visitor enters the shop. This officer is the groom of the daughter of Cardillac. Having quickly received the consent of his father to give his daughter in marriage, he spends much more effort and perseverance on the purchase of a beautiful gold chain. Unable to stand it, Cardillac, throwing a black cloak and putting on a mask, sneaks in the night for the departing officer.

Action Three

Scene Four : The night streets of Paris. Near the inn is an officer with a golden chain on his neck. The killer Cardillac approaches him with inaudible steps. However, the jeweler himself is followed, hiding, by a gold merchant. The jeweler pounces on the officer and hits him with a dagger, but only hurts him. The merchant makes a fuss and calls the guard for help. The officer, who recognized the father of his bride in the attacker, convinces him to quickly escape. Police appear, crowd gathers. The gold merchant announces that the killer and the robber are the jeweler himself. Cardillac was captured, but the officer who wants to save him by any means claims that the real killer has escaped, and the gold merchant is an accomplice of the criminal. Cardillac is released, and the gold merchant is dragged to prison. A tongue is untied at the jeweler in the tavern of the jeweler, and he publicly declares that he knows the name of the true killer and that he justifies his motives. A crowd gathers around him again, demanding that this name be given. Otherwise, the mob threatens to smash his workshop, and crush and destroy the jewels he created. This Cardillac can not stand, and admitted to the atrocities committed. However, he does not repent of them at all. Battered human lives are nothing compared to the eternal and great Art. If he had to start his life anew, Cardillac would do the same again. The crowd rushes to the jeweler. Despite the fact that the officer is trying to recapture him from the people, Cardillac, mortally wounded, falls to the ground. The last thing he manages to do is to say goodbye to the officer’s golden chain. The jeweler kisses this jewel and dies. The officer, standing above the body, makes a farewell speech.

• Oper - Operette - Ballett von Dr. Hertha Bauer, Humboldt Taschenbuch Nr. 27 (1954)
• Pipers Enzyklopädie des Musiktheaters, München 1989