Albert Herring
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Original title: | Albert Herring |
| Original language: | English |
| Music: | Benjamin Britten |
| Libretto : | Eric Crozier based on the novella Le rosier de Madame Husson by Guy de Maupassant |
| Premiere: | June 20 or March 29, 1947 |
| Place of premiere: | Mr. and Mrs. John's Opera House, Glyndebourne |
| Playing time: | approx. 2 ½ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | the fictional English town of Loxford, 1900 |
| people | |
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Albert Herring is an opera by Benjamin Britten (music) and Eric Crozier ( libretto ), which premiered in Glyndebourne in 1947.
action
The scene of the event is the fictional English town of Loxford in 1900.
first act
1st picture
The dignitaries of the place have gathered in the house of the Lady Billows, where they decide, according to ancient traditions, to revive the election of the May Queen , whereby the most virtuous girl in town is awarded this honorary title. In this way they hope to be able to counteract the rampant moral decline. But it quickly turns out that there is no young lady on site who meets these requirements. Police chief Budd suggests that one should choose a May King instead and brings Albert Herring, a reserved shop boy who is firmly under his mother's slipper, into play. Since, in the pastor's view, the only thing that matters is virtue, Lady Billows is also convinced.
2nd picture
Emmy, Sissy and Harry are playing ball in the street and accidentally tossing it into Mrs Herring's shop. Harry climbs in to get the ball; the shop is deserted and Harry is putting some tasty apples in his pocket. Sid comes to the shop, discovers the boy and throws him out of the store after a beating. Albert comes out of the cellar laden, and Sid enjoys teasing Albert a little because he has to slowly detach himself from his mother's skirt. Nancy, the baker's daughter, appears, and since the two have been a couple for a long time (albeit in secret), Albert is quickly forgotten and the two of them leave. Florence, Lady Billows' housekeeper, enters the shop and tells Albert that the dignitaries are on their way to see him and his mother; and no sooner has Albert called his mother from the kitchen than Lady Billows and her entourage are standing there. They announce the election of Albert as May King, and although Albert has no desire to do so, his mother definitely does not want to miss this honor - especially since there is still prize money of 25 pounds.
Second act
1st picture
The big day has come. Florence, who organized the party, is waiting impatiently with Nancy for Sid, who is again late. When he finally arrives, Florence hurries off at once, and Sid tells Nancy about the service in which Albert must have sat rather unhappy while the pastor spoke of virtue and morality. In response to Nancy's inquiries, Sid confesses that he has planned a prank and wants to add rum to Albert's lemonade. The appearance of Miss Wordsworth, who wants to rehearse the song she composed herself with her school children, drives them away. But when the opportunity arises shortly afterwards, because the rehearsal ended quickly, Sid puts his plan into action. The festival society appears and the local dignitaries hold their laudations. When the pastor then asks Albert for a little thanks, his nerves fail completely. After all, he can bring himself to at least three cheers for Lady Billows - and drinks his rum-infused glass empty. Plagued by a sudden hiccup, Sid again gives him alcohol; and when he is better, the feast begins.
2nd picture
The star-hailing Albert comes home to his mother's shop late at night, still full of impressions and emotions set free by alcohol. When he overhears Sid and Nancy meeting in secret outside on the street and hears for the first time how they really think of him, he faces his situation for the first time and decides to flip a coin. So he wants to decide whether he wants to continue living like this or break all bridges behind him and change his life. The coin toss decides - it goes out with an unknown destination. His mother, who arrives shortly afterwards, thinks he is in bed and goes to sleep herself.
Third act
All Loxford is excited: Albert has disappeared. Nancy is desperate because she believes that something might have happened to Albert while drunk; and when Sid arrives, she blames him for having caused this terrible situation. Police chief Budd appears and asks the broken Mrs. Herring to give him a picture for identification when another clue dismisses him. The pastor, Miss Wordsworth and even Lady Billows appear with Florence to assist Mrs. Herring - when Budd returns with his search party and presents the wreath of the May King that has been flattened. All prostrate themselves in despair, believing that this is proof of his death. But suddenly the shop door opens and the disheveled and dirty Albert walks in. He willingly replies to the inquisitorial questioning and tells of having ridden a stolen bicycle to the neighboring town in order to try out the entire register of sins with the help of the prize money. More and more enjoying the horror of the dignitaries, he tells of bars and fights, and finally he expels everyone, even his mother. Only his friends Sid and Nancy and the three children stay and celebrate the beginning of his new, different life with him.
music
Albert Herring is a chamber opera for twelve instrumentalists and thirteen singers. The vocal ensembles are very lively and varied. There are various allusions in the orchestral setting: In Albert's magic drink z. B. quotes Britten ironically from Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde ; he also quotes from his own play The Rape of Lucretia when the police chief speaks of rape.
Web links
- Albert Herring at the Britten-Pears Foundation
- Work data on Albert Herring based on MGG with discography at Operone