About the work
Merlin is a Romantic opera in three acts by Karl Goldmark, with a libretto by Siegfried Lipiner that turns the legend of the magician Merlin and the fairy Viviane into a story of love and redemption. More than ten years after his success with Die Königin von Saba, Goldmark brought the work to its premiere on 19 November 1886 at the Vienna Court Opera.
Plot
The magician Merlin falls in love with the fairy Viviane, betraying his bond to King Arthur's Round Table; a demon exploits his weakness and draws him into tragedy. Only Viviane's sacrifice finally frees Merlin from his curse.
Cultural significance
Like Wagner, Goldmark used leading and recognition motifs for Merlin, Viviane, the demon and the fairy Morgana; the opera was for a time regarded as his most significant after Die Königin von Saba but largely fell into obscurity during the 20th century and is now rarely staged.