Der Evangelimann

The libretto, by the composer, is based on Leopold Florian Meissner's [de] short story "Aus den Berichten eines Polizeikommissärs".

When he played extracts from the score to conductor Karl Muck and Count Bolko von Hochberg [de] (then artistic director of the Berlin Opera), they immediately secured the rights to the premiere.

Famous conductors such as Felix Mottl, Gustav Mahler, Franz Schalk and Richard Strauss gave it their support, and the title role of the Evangelist Mathias was sung by prominent tenors.

[2] On 17 January 1927, Kienzl celebrated his 70th birthday by conducting the work at the Vienna State Opera, with Lotte Lehmann and Richard Tauber in the leading roles.

When Johannes witnesses Martha and Mathias swearing fidelity to each other at their farewell, his jealousy turns into blind hate and he sets the monastery on fire.