DAS GASTSPIEL. Komische Oper in 1 Akt für 7
Sänger, 3 Pianisten und 3 Schlagzeuger

A hotel page packs the trunks of Kammersänger Gerardo, who wants to travel to Brussels to sing Tristan there. Gerardo enters, gives the page instructions and glances through some letters.
He now wants to prepare himself for Tristan during the remaining half hour, but is repeatedly prevented from doing so by servants and the voices of invisible admirers. After things have finally calmed down again, Gerardo memorises the staging directions of the director in Brussels. Suddenly a young Englishwoman, Miss Coeurne, is standing in his room. She worships the singer, and Gerardo only manages to get rid of her by being allowed to kiss her.
The old professor Dühring is responsible for the next interruption; he begs Gerardo to sing the main role in his so far unsuccessful opera. He cannot refrain from giving a sample of his work. The irritated singer only barely succeeds, with difficulty, in getting rid of Dühring by buttering him up. Gerardo hastily makes his final preparations for departure. Then his lover Helene appears, who has sacrificed marriage and social position for him. Gerardo turns her away, for he is bound to contracts and his art. Helene shoots herself. Gerardo must now decide whether to stay or leave. Forty seconds remain until the train departs – a policeman is nowhere to be found – Gerardo takes the train.

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