The German libretto by Friedrich Hofmann [de] is based on a 1875 romantic poem by Julius Wolff about the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
The opera was first performed at the Neues Stadttheater in Leipzig, on 19 March 1879, conducted by Arthur Nikisch.
[1] The first performance in the U.S. was at the Thalia Theatre, New York City, on 28 April 1886 conducted by John Lund.
The 13th-century tale is about Hunold Singuf, a name given by Wolff in his poem to the "pied piper", who rids the town of Hamelin of its rats.
Hunold is not suitably rewarded by the townspeople, and they pay a terrible price when he lures all the children away and they disappear.