Title   Der Vogelhändler (The Birdseller) Composer   Karl Zeller (1842 - 1898) Librettists   Moritz West and Ludwig Held Genre   Operetta (three acts) First performance   Theater an der Wien, Vienna, 10 January, 1891. Time of action   Eighteenth or nineteenth century. Place of action   On the Rhine, Germany (Rheinpfalz). A village A hall in the Elector's palace The palace park. Main parts   Electress Marie soprano Christel soprano Baroness Adelaïde contralto or mezzo-soprano Adam tenor II Count Stanislaus tenor I Baron Weps bass or baritone Prominence of chorus   Large. Orchestra   2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns,            2 trumpets, 3 trombones, kettle-drums, percussion, strings. Special demands   The work requires two mixed choirs to do justice to the music. Amateur-groups sometimes call in the help of fellow-societies. Full score and orchestral parts   Available. Level   Not difficult. Length   About 2½ hours (three acts). Music   Der Vogelhändler is one of the most popular works in the German repertoire. The music, well-known, is charming and witty: Adam's entrance-song, the Rhine-waltz, evergreens like "Ich bin die Christel von der Post" and "Schenkt man sich Rosen in Tirol", the professors' duet, it is all brilliant and rightly popular. Story   Adam, a Tyrolese bird seller, is in love with Christel, post-girl in a village on the Rhine. Christel intends to get Adam a good job by presenting a written request to the Elector. However, the man who receives her is not the Elector, but a certain Count Stanislaus. When Adam finds out that his Christel has had a private interview with this gentleman, he draws the wrong conclusions and begins to show an interest in Marie, a girl he has recently met, not realizing that she is the Electress in disguise. The result is confusion. Adam, against his will, gets a job at court (the professors who are to examine him on his suitability have been bribed), and Christel is to marry Count Stanislaus, to the annoyance of Adelaïde, an aged baroness, who had singled out the handsome count for herself. Christel, however, still loves Adam. The latter overhears a conversation that makes him understand everything. He makes it up with Christel. Adelaïde also finds a husband; she marries, not Stanislaus, but the old Baron Weps. Costumes   Courtiers, country-folk in Rheinland-Pfalz costume, Tyrolese.