Fervaal
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| Title: | Fervaal |
| Shape: | Opera in a prelude and three acts |
| Original language: | French |
| Music: | Vincent d'Indy |
| Libretto : | Vincent d'Indy |
| Literary source: | Axel by Esaias Tegnér |
| Premiere: | March 12, 1897 |
| Place of premiere: | Brussels , Théâtre de la Monnaie |
| Place and time of the action: | Cevennes, France in the 5th century AD |
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Fervaal is an opera (original name: "Action musicale") or lyrical drama in a prelude and three acts by Vincent d'Indy . The libretto, created by the composer himself, is based on the story Axel by the Swedish author Esaias Tegnér . The first performance took place on March 12, 1897 in the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels . The opera is considered to be an important example of Wagnérisme.
action
The action takes place in the valley of the Cevennes (France) in the 5th century AD at the time of the Saracen attacks on areas of France settled by Celts.
foreplay
Fervaal, general of an army of Celtic warriors, must prevent the conquest of the holy mountain Cravann by a Saracen force. According to the oracle of the druid Arfagard, he should only succeed in doing this if he swears an oath to resist any temptation of earthly love.
first act
The defense of the holy mountain begins to falter when Fervaal sees the Saracen princess Guilhen. The Saracens defeat the Celts. Fervaal remains wounded on the battlefield. Guilhen, who fell head over heels in love with Fervaal, has him brought to her father's castle, the Emir, and nurses him back to health. The druid Arfagard, who was also picked up by the Saracens, reminds Fervaal of his promise to renounce the earthly Liben. Fervaal renounces Guilhen and flees with Arfagard from captivity by the Saracens.
Second act
Fervaal and Arfagard return to Mount Cravann and summon the goddess Kaito for advice. The oracle of the goddess is sobering:
When the oath is violated, when the old law is broken, when love rules the world, the cycle of Esus is complete. Only death, redeeming death, will name life. The new life is born from death.
Unlike Fervaal, Arfagard does not understand the meaning of the prophecy. He realizes that violating the oath will result in his death. Arfagard introduces Fervaal to the chiefs of the Cravann. They appoint him their new "Brenn", their general. Fervaal assumes that he will fail as a leader and thus as the savior of his country, but believes that he can achieve his redeeming death in battle.
Third act
The army of the Cravann tribes lost in battle. Fervaal remains alive, although he wanted to seek death in battle. He therefore asks Arfagard to kill him as a sacrifice in order to fulfill his duty. But that's when Princess Guilhen enters the scene, rekindling Fervaal's love and causing him to change his mind. In a duel for life and death, the druid is defeated by the warrior. Fervaal and Guilhen leave the battlefield and begin to climb the sacred mountain. Guilhen is unable to cope with the severe night frost and the exertion of the climb and dies in Fervaal's poor. Fervaal mourns the deaths of Guilhen and Arfagard. The warrior carries his lover's body to the top of the mountain, hoping that the rays of the morning sun might revive Guilhen.
The curtain falls in the light of the rising sun.
Instrumentation
The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:
- Woodwinds : four flutes (3rd + 4th piccolo ), two oboes , English horn, three clarinets (3rd bass clarinet), four bassoons , four saxophones (soprano, 2 alto, tenor)
- Brass : four horns , four trumpets , 8 sax horns , 4 trombones, 1 tuba, 1 cornet
- Timpani , drums , cymbals , triangle , tam-tam, 2 small gongs
- Two harps
- Strings
literature
- Roesler; Hohl (ed.): The great opera leader. Works, composers, performers, opera houses . Factum Lexicon Institute. Revised special edition for Bassermann Verlag, Munich 2000
- Schreiber: Opera guide for advanced learners. The history of musical theater. Vol. 2: The 19th century . Bärenreiter, Kassel (among others) 2010
