Amor und Psyche is an opera (singspiel

Singspiel

A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...

) in four acts composed by Ludwig Abeille to a German libretto

Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...

by Franz Carl Hiemer (1768 – 1822). Based on the story of Cupid and Psyche

Cupid and Psyche

Cupid and Psyche , is a legend that first appeared as a digressionary story told by an old woman in Lucius Apuleius' novel, The Golden Ass, written in the 2nd century CE. Apuleius likely used an earlier tale as the basis for his story, modifying it to suit the thematic needs of his novel.It has...

, the opera premiered on January 18, 1800 at the Hoftheater (Herzöglichestheater) in Stuttgart

Stuttgart

Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....

. Amor und Psyche was popular in Germany in its day and a version of the score for voice and piano was published by Breitkopf & Härtel

Breitkopf & Härtel

Breitkopf & Härtel is the world's oldest music publishing house. The firm was founded in 1719 in Leipzig by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf . The catalogue currently contains over 1000 composers, 8000 works and 15,000 music editions or books on music. The name "Härtel" was added when Gottfried...

. Franz Carl Hiemer went on to write the libretto for Abeille's third opera, Peter und Ännchen

Peter und Ännchen

Peter und Ännchen is an opera in one act composed by Ludwig Abeille to a German libretto by Franz Carl Hiemer...

(1809) as well as the libretti for Carl Maria von Weber

Carl Maria von Weber

Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....

's operas Silvana

Silvana (opera)

Silvana is an opera by Carl Maria von Weber, first performed in Frankfurt am Main on 16 September 1810. The libretto, by Franz Carl Hiemer, is a reworking of an earlier, unsuccessful opera by Weber, Das Waldmädchen...

and Abu Hassan

Abu Hassan

Abu Hassan is a comic opera in one act by Carl Maria von Weber to a German libretto by Franz Hiemer, based on a story in One Thousand and One Nights...

.

Roles

• Psyche
  Psyche
  - Psychology :* Psyche , a concept of intangible self* Psyche , a periodical on the study of consciousness* Soul in the Bible, or psyche , spirit or soul in philosophy and theology- Art :...
  
  
• Pythia
  Pythia
  The Pythia , commonly known as the Oracle of Delphi, was the priestess at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. The Pythia was widely credited for her prophecies inspired by Apollo. The Delphic oracle was established in the 8th century BC...
  
  
• Amor (Cupid
  Cupid
  In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. He is the son of the goddess Venus and the god Mars. His Greek counterpart is Eros...
  
  )
• Mercury
  Mercury (mythology)
  Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
  
  
• Alecto
  Alecto
  Alecto is one of the Erinyes in Greek mythology. According to Hesiod, she was the daughter of Gaea fertilized by the blood spilled from Uranus when Cronus castrated him. She is the sister of Tisiphone and Megaera...
  
  
• The King
• 3 Furies
• 3 Genii
  Genius (mythology)
  In ancient Roman religion, the genius was the individual instance of a general divine nature that is present in every individual person, place or thing.-Nature of the genius:...
  
  
• 3 Priests

Sources

• Autenrieth, Johanne et al. (2000). Die Handschriften der Württembergischen Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (2: Codices musici ; 2, (HB XVII 29 - 480), Volume 2; Volume 6). Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, p. 11. ISBN 3447042419
• Grove, George ed. (1900). "Abeille, Joh. Chr. Ludwig", Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Vol. 1, p. 4. MacMillan & Co. Ltd.