THE BIRD SELLER

Die Vogelhändler

An operetta in 3 acts by Moritz West and Ludwig Held based on the comedy Ce qui deviennent les roses by Varin and Biéville; Music by Carl Zeller, adaptation by Bruce Walker, Fred Tysh and Hans May

Theater an der Wein, Vienna - 10 January 1891
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - 17 June, 1895
Casino Theatre New York - 5 October, 1891 (as The Tyrolean)

Set in the colourful milieu of Bavaria, this is a story of two young lovers - Christel, the village postmistress, and Adam, a handsome bird seller from the Tyrol - who, at cross-purposes, become embroiled in romantic complications at the Court of the reigning Prince. The highly entertaining intrigues and misunderstandings - involving quite a number of distinctive characters - are eventually sorted out to the accompaniment of some of Zeller's brightest and most liltingly-tuneful music.

Principals:

11 female (1 non-singing), 14 male (4 non-singing)

Princess Marie
Baroness Adelaide, Countess Mimi - ladies at Court
Baron Weps - Master of the Hunt
Count Stanislais - his nephew, a guards officer
Süffle, Würmchen - professors
Adam - a birdseller from the Tyrol
Christel - the post mistress
Schneck - the village mayor
Frau Nebel - the inn landlady
Jette - a waitress

Tyroleans, people of the Pfalz, country folk, society people

Instrumentation:

flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, percussion, harp, strings

Vocal Score and Libretto on hire only