Die Feen

Die Feen
Opera by Richard Wagner
Title page of the piano reduction
TranslationThe Fairies
LibrettistRichard Wagner (1833)
LanguageGerman
Based onCarlo Gozzi's La donna serpente
Premiere
29 June 1888 (1888-06-29)

Die Feen (German: [diː feːn], The Fairies) is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. The German libretto was written by the composer after Carlo Gozzi's La donna serpente.[1] Die Feen was Wagner's first completed opera, but remained unperformed in his lifetime. It has never established itself firmly in the operatic repertory although it receives occasional performances, on stage or in concert, most often in Germany. The opera is available on CD and in a heavily cut, adapted-for-children version, DVD.

Although the music of Die Feen shows the influences of Carl Maria von Weber and other composers of the time, commentators have recognised embryonic features of the mature Wagnerian opera. The fantasy plot also anticipates themes such as redemption that were to reappear in his later works.

  1. ^ Barry Millington, "Feen, Die (The Fairies)" Grove Music Online (accessed 23 June 2022).