»An Opera for Everyman« In the autumn of 1929 the composer Franz Schreker was in the midst of a creative crisis: his publisher and the public had rejected his two most recent operas. The public demanded sensational successes like Krenek's Jonny spielt auf, and his publisher pressured him to produce a box-office hit; but instead of making concessions to the prevailing public taste, Schreker decided to pursue a different path. He set out in quest of music for an ideal, unspoiled public and got the idea for it while attending a puppet show during his summer vacation in Italy: »During this amusing presentation the idea came to me to write a very primitive, naïve stage work, an opera for everyman, and after brief reflection I hit upon de Coster's charming tale Smetse Smee. « It was thus that Der Schmied von Gent (The Smith of Ghent) was born, and it is truly a completely different Schreker who presents himself to us here. Stylistic pluralism and melodies of folk character, songs and dances, references – very self-ironic ones – back to his own music. Even those who know their Schreker will not be able to contain their amazement. His wealth of imagination and wit are simply inexhaustible, and he pulls all the stops of his musical skill and talent.