Don Quixote (Opera)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Don Quixote |
Poster for the premiere at the Théâtre de la Gaîté |
|
| Shape: | “Comédie-héroïque” in five acts |
| Original language: | French |
| Music: | Jules Massenet |
| Libretto : | Henri Cain |
| Literary source: |
Jacques Le Lorrain : Le chevalier de la longue figure |
| Premiere: | February 19, 1910 |
| Place of premiere: | Opéra de Monte Carlo |
| Playing time: | approx. 2 ¼ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | Spain in the Middle Ages |
| people | |
|
|
Don Quichotte is an opera that premiered in 1910 at the Opéra de Monte Carlo (original name: "comédie-héroïque") in five acts . The music is by Jules Massenet . The libretto by Henri Cain is based on the material by Miguel de Cervantes .
content
first act
A public square in front of the Dulcinées residence. Four admirers of Dulcinées serenade her. Dulcinée appears herself and explains that it is not enough for her to be admired (“Quand la femme a vingt ans”). She withdraws. A crowd announces the approach of Don Quixote on his horse Rosinante and his squire Sancho Panza on his donkey. Enchanted by so much attention, Don Quixote orders his servant to give the people some money. After the crowd has dispersed, Don Quixote sings a serenade to Dulcinée (“Quand apparaissent les étoiles”). He is, however, disturbed by another suitor, Juan. There was a duel with the sword, which Dulcinée interrupted by appearing. She is delighted with Don Quixote's knightly attentions and reproaches Juan for his envy. Don Quixote offers her a lock. Dulcinée, however, wants a pearl necklace from him that the robber Ténébrun had stolen from her.
Second act
In the open field, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza appear on their mounts. Don Quixote is about to write a love poem. Sancho Panza countered this with a long rant about the meaning and purpose of her company ("Comment peut-on penser du bien de ces coquines?"). The mist disappears and a line of windmills appears that Don Quixote thinks are giants. To the shock of Sancho Panza, he attacks the first windmill, is caught by one of its wings and lifted into the air.
Third act
In the evening, Don Quixote thinks that they will soon find the bandits. Sancho Panza goes to sleep while Don Quixote keeps watch. The robbers approach and after a brief struggle they capture Don Quixote while Sancho Panza manages to escape. The robbers are amazed at the old man who puts himself in danger and want to kill him. Don Quixote's prayer ("Seigneur, reçois mon âme, elle n'est pas méchante") arouses the pity of Ténébrun, their leader. Quixote declares his mission (“Je suis le chevalier errant”) and the necklace is returned to him. When saying goodbye to Quixote, the robbers even ask for his blessing.
Fourth act
Dulcinée tries to have fun at festivities, but neither music nor dance can dispel their melancholy (“Lorsque le temps d'amour a fui”). She sings a song and accompanies herself to the guitar (“Ne pensons qu'au plaisir d'aimer”). When everyone is about to retire for dinner, Don Quichotte and Sancho Panza appear. Sancho asks for a reward from his master, who promises him an island and various riches. To the applause of the crowd, Don Quixote Dulcinée returns her necklace. However, when he asks for her hand, the audience burst out laughing. Dulcinée feels sorry for Don Quixote and asks her company to leave her alone. She explains to Quixote that her fate and way of life are different from that of the Chevalier, kisses him on the forehead and leaves. Society comes back to make fun of the old man. Sancho Panza defends Don Quichotte's honor (“Riez, allez, riez du pauvre idéologue”) and takes his master with him into the distance.
Fifth act
On a starry night Don Quixote is dying. He says goodbye to Sancho Panza and remembers that he had promised him an island as a reward. He promises him an island of dreams (“Prends cette île”). As death approaches, he lifts his eyes to a certain star that shines down on them, hears Dulcinee's voice for the last time and leaves life.
orchestra
The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:
- Woodwinds : three flutes (3rd also Piccolo ), three oboes (3 also English horn ), three clarinets (3rd and bass clarinet ), three bassoons
- Brass : four horns , three trumpets , three trombones , tuba
- Timpani , percussion : bass drum , snare drum , cymbals , hanging cymbals, triangles , castanets , tam-tam , tambour de basque
- Celesta
- two harps
- Guitar (played in the fourth act by the singer of the Dulcinée according to the score)
- Strings
- Stage music behind the scene: two flutes, oboe (also English horn), percussion (triangle, tambour de basque), celesta, harp, piano , organ , violin , viola , double bass
- Stage music on the scene: 20 pairs of castanets
Work history
Emergence
Massenet was inspired by a dramatization of the original Cervantes material by Jacques Le Lorrain, which was very successful during his lifetime. The opera was commissioned by the opera director of Monte Carlo, Raoul Gunsbourg . The Russian bassist Fyodor Chaliapin , who sang the part of Don Quixote in the world premiere and to whom the opera was dedicated, burst into tears when Massenet played him excerpts on the piano, which the singer mentions in his own letters.
Performances
The first performance took place on February 24, 1910 in Monte Carlo , the German first performance on March 31, 1911 in Nuremberg .
The opera was extremely successful from the start and was performed in Brussels , Moscow (Russian), Marseille and Paris soon after its premiere . Today it is one of the lesser-performed works, also because the demands on the ensemble are enormous - especially on the singer in the main role, who z. B. has been interpreted by Kurt Moll , Nikolaj Gjaurow and José van Dam . In 2019 the Bregenz Festival brought out a production.
Web links
- Don Quixote : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Piano reduction with text in French and English
- Plot and libretto by Don Quichotte (opera) on Opera-Guide landing page not available due to URL change
- Discography of Don Quixote at Operadis
Individual evidence
- ^ Carl Dahlhaus : Don Quixote. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater . Volume 3: Works. Henze - Massine. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1989, ISBN 3-492-02413-0 , pp. 770-774.