Der unglaubliche Spotz

Libretto by Manfred Weiß; English version Benjamin Gordon (G,E)

S,M,T,B/Bar; perc/kbd(1-2)-vln.vlc (all musicians playing various additional instruments)

"If we only heard things differently, the world would look completely different." – Bartolomäus Brummhold, Composer

Allyria is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Every child knows that. But hardly anyone knows that King Astus Bastus of the Incredible Hearing is so sensitive that every loud noise gives him earache and headache. And it's getting even worse. And now, the world premiere of the first Allyrian opera is taking place, which the composer Bartolomäus Brummhold has written, and which has the beautiful title 'Palali and Palalo'. Asta Basta, the King's daughter, will sing the main female role. But the overture has scarcely begun when the King gets earache and forbids the performance of the opera - for ever! Asta Basta and Brummhold are aghast; but they won't give up. Both are convinced that music could actually do the King good. They decide to play him music quietly at night, so that he might get used to it. Unfortunately, the famous inventor Einstein has built headphones in the meantime that protect the ears of the King. Despite this, Asta and Brummhold succeed in getting their music heard very quietly by the King. But it doesn't work. On the contrary: the King becomes even more sensitive, and the headphones that Einstein builds get even bigger. And when State guests from Funien and Wansibar come, the King can't even bear hearing the National Anthems! The presidents of both lands leave angrily, and Allyria is no longer friends with any countries in the world. The whole of Allyria is sad, and it becomes ever more silent, and ever more unbearable. Something has to happen!

Asta and Brummhold let Einstein in on their plan and he is persuaded not to lose a second in helping them, considering the difficult situation in Allryia. He begins to build a machine that makes all noises and sounds into individual notes, so that they can play it to the King, who doesn't like any music at all. And at some point, or so he hopes, the notes will come together in the King's head and he will start to like music. The first try is a failure. But suddenly, when noone expects it, the King wakes up one morning and excitedly says that he has heard beautiful music during the night. Neither Asta, nor Brummhold, nor Einstein can explain it. Then, however, they discover The Unbelievable Spotz, a small machine that has helped them. The King allows the premiere of Brummhold's opera, and it's a roaring success. Allyria is, thanks to the Spotz, the one country in the world where vacuum cleaners sing and the snoring of the King sounds like an opera by Brummhold.

Comic