Kammermusik (1915)

The old, ailing Helga Laehr sits in her armchair—with her greatest joy, her only son Helmut, beside her, and his future wife Marion at her feet—and tells the two young people the story of her life. Helga spent a happy childhood at her parents’ castle. That happiness was abruptly destroyed when the castle burned down, leaving only its walls. The old house servant saved her and initially took her to the modest lodgings of the organist, Cantor Brose. Whenever he sat down at the organ and played, her heart opened. A new world was revealed to Helga: the world of music. But one day, one of her aunts intruded on this newly created paradise. She thought Helga belonged back in the world—in the city and in high society—and took her into her own home. But her aunt’s invitation was by no means selfless; she wanted to match Helga, a wealthy heiress, with her own son. Helga, however, had little inclination to do so and fled her aunt’s home when they tried to force her to marry the relative she did not love. She returned to the organist’s house, where she learned that her fatherly friend, the old castle servant, had died that very day—supposedly of a broken heart, she was told, because she, his charge, had apparently left for good. At the organist’s house, Helga found her peace again. Before long, she met a young doctor, Dr. Wegener, and fell in love with him. Their happiness seemed complete when the doctor told her that he was incurably ill and therefore could not possibly marry her. Helga would not accept this objection and fought for their love. The two eventually married. Their union produced Helmut, who now sits at Helga’s feet, listening devoutly to his mother’s memories. As had been predicted, Helga’s married happiness lasted only a short time, for her husband died just two years later. As a young widow, she walked in silent mourning behind the deceased’s coffin. From then on, all her love and attention would be devoted entirely to her son. She introduced Helmut to her love of music, and he received the appropriate training, eventually becoming a talented cellist. His very first concert earned him ovations. Now all three are together again in the present, and the old mother asks Helmut to play once more the love song that had opened her heart long ago at Cantor Brose’s house. As a loving son, Helmut grants the old woman’s wish and plays. In her sickroom, this chamber concert becomes her final great fulfillment. Then Helga peacefully falls asleep forever.