Der Alpenkönig und der Menschenfeind

(The alpine King and the misanthrope)

   by Ferdinand Raimund. Premiered 1828. Raimund's Zauberstück features several songs and comic turns typical of the genre, but its real theme is the possibility of improving humankind's basic nature. One of humankind's most miserable specimens is Rappelkopf, the misanthrope of the title. He mistreats everybody with whom he has contact, especially women; his servants regard him as an absolute tyrant. Rappelkopf suspects everybody of conspiring against him. The Alpine king Astralagus comes to the rescue by transforming Rappelkopf into his brother-in-law, allowing him to witness the inner workings of his household and discover that his relatives and servants are actually not so bad after all. Then Astralagus transforms himself into Rappelkopf, and the real Rappelkopf witnesses what a wretch he has been to the people around him. Rappelkopf is cured of his misanthropy and returns to his original form, assumes a loving posture toward his relatives and servants. They are amazed, and for the first time in his life Rappelkopf learns how to be happy.