Die Feen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Die Feen
by Richard Wagner
Wagner, ca. 1840
Genre	Opera in 3 acts
Native title	Die Feen
Translation	The Fairies
Librettist	Richard Wagner
Language	German
Based on	La donna serpente (Carlo Gozzi)

Die Feen (which means The Fairies) is an opera in three acts. It was written by the famous German composer Richard Wagner. He also wrote the story, or libretto, for the opera himself. The story was based on an old tale by Carlo Gozzi called La donna serpente (The Serpent Woman).

Die Feen was the very first opera that Wagner completed. However, it was never performed while he was alive. It was first shown to an audience only after he had passed away. This opera has never become as famous as some of his later works. But its opening music, called the overture, is sometimes played in concerts.

Wagner's Early Work

This opera shows how other composers of the time, like Carl Maria von Weber, influenced Wagner. You can hear musical ideas that Wagner would later use in his more famous operas. These ideas became very important to his unique style.

Fantasy and Important Themes

Die Feen has a fairy tale setting. Wagner loved using fantasy stories, and this opera shows his early interest in them. He used similar magical themes in many of his later works. The idea of a character being saved or "redeemed" is also very important in Die Feen. This theme also appears often in Wagner's later, well-known operas.

Images for kids

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  Richard Wagner, c. 1830

See also

In Spanish: Las hadas para niños