Unfinished Opera in Four Acts

Image: Undine by John William Waterhouse
Undine is an original work by Frank DiGiacomo, which derives freely from several sources: the Bohemian legends of the “Undinas” or water sprites - de la Motte Fouqué’s tale, Undine; Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid; and Gerhart Hauptmann’s The Sunken Bell.

The composer was inspired by these similiar sources and used them to tell a very personal story, while keeping the narrative enjoyable in itself as a fairy tale. The action alternates in setting between the beautiful forest where Undine is discovered by the Prince, and his own Palace.

The piano-vocal excerpts presented here were written and performed for art song concerts in 1975, 1976 and 1977, but the complete opera was sadly not written down, or scored, before Mr. DiGiacomo left us. The performers and their roles at those concerts were:

Christine Klemperer - Undine: a wood and water sprite, daughter of a human woman and the water spirit Kuhleborn; a creature of enchantment and magic.

William (Bill) Black - Prince Hulbrand: a dreamer, an impulsive lover, but all too human and weak-willed.

Jean Loftus - Mother Hulda: the forest-mother, benevolent and wise, but a “witch” to men.

Peter Cavallo - Kuhleborn: the mighty water spirit, Undine’s father, who sees all too well the blindness, cruelty, and hatred of men and is a sworn enemy to them and to all who align themselves with the race which destroyed the one creature he loved.

Gayle Ross - Princess Berthalda: a young, gentle victim of the forces surrounding her.

The Prince’s Ministers: James Shults - Court Physician, Bruce Reed - Bishop, Raymond Domenico - Master-at-Arms, and Peter Cavallo - Chancellor of the Kingdom.

Title and Copyright Information

Undine - Unfinished Opera in Three Acts
Libretto by Frank DiGiacomo with assistance from Julian R. Pace

© Copyright 1975, 1976, 1977 Frank DiGiacomo
© Copyright 2010 Frank DiGiacomo
© Copyright 2014 Sing DiGiacomo

All Rights Reserved under applicable law worldwide.
All rights of public, theatrical, radio, television, and film performance, mechanical reproduction in any form whatsoever,
translation of the libretto, of the complete opera or parts thereof are strictly reserved.

License to perform this work in whole or in part must be secured from Sing DiGiacomo.
Terms will be quoted upon request. Contact singdigiacomo@gmail.com with your request.

Undine
Undine's Lullaby soprano
Mother Hulda's Song mezzo soprano
Trio soprano
Prince Hulbrand's Song baritone
Act One Love Duet soprano and baritone
Quintet TTBBB
Prince Hulbrand's Soliloquy baritone
Undine's Love Song soprano
Princess Berthalda's Waltz-Song coloratura soprano
Undine's Lament soprano
Undine's Farewell soprano
Final Love Duet soprano and baritone