ESTONIAN SYMPHONIC MUSIC. THE FIRST CENTURY 1896-1996.
The two-act opera begins with a spring morning scene, maidens are singing, and
Aino the daughter of Lembitu appears. A young Estonian Meelis expresses his love for
Aino but she declines him, in her aria she appeals to the spirit of her ancestors for
strength.
In the second act the historical Battle of St. Matthew's Day (September 21st,
1217) has just taken place and Lembitu is dead. Aino, the people, and the knights
arrive; the knights demand surrender. Aino is disdainful of both the knights and Meelis,
who appeared with them. Grasping a sword she kills herself.
Obviously the main weakness of The Daughter of Lembitu is rooted in the
libretto, it seems lacking in both depth and width, and is too short, without genuine
inner development of the characters. Certain superficiality is noticeable. Fully charged
national literary content and thoroughly restrained romantic music did not find an
accord. The German critic Carl Hunnius wrote:
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