Helvellyn (opera)

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Opera dates
Original title: Helvellyn
Title page of the piano reduction

Title page of the piano reduction

Shape: Opera in four acts
Original language: English
Music: George Alexander Macfarren
Libretto : John Oxenford
Premiere: November 3, 1864
Place of premiere: Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London
Place and time of the action: Mabel's farm on the eastern slope of Helvellyn and the nearest town, early 18th century
people
  • Mabel, widow and heiress of a rich statesman or landlord ( soprano )
  • Hannah, an orphan (soprano)
  • Luke, disinherited older brother of the late statesman ( baritone )
  • Old Steenie, a very old farm servant ( bass )
  • Martin, a foundling under Mabel's protection ( tenor )
  • Farm workers and dependents ( choir )

Helvellyn is an English opera in four acts . The music was composed by George Alexander Macfarren . The libretto is from John Oxenford after Der Sonnwendhof by Salomon Mosenthal . The opera premiered in London on November 3, 1864.

action

The following table of contents is based on the review of the world premiere in the Observer on November 6, 1864.

first act

The first act takes place at the foot of the mountain of the same name in Cumbria . Mabel, the widow of a wealthy farmer, is in the midst of her people, who are busy reaping a rich harvest. She regards her young foreman Martin, to whom she entrusts the management of her farm, with particular favors. During the harvest festival, Hannah, a poor beggar girl, asks for food and shelter, which is granted by the always generous Mabel. Another ragged visitor also catches their attention: Luke, the prodigal son of her late husband's brother. However, Luke, who was long absent, did not return to the village with laudable intentions. He claims to be able to prove that, by virtue of his birthright, he is entitled to half of Mabel's estate. This announcement prompts Mabel to travel to London to seek evidence of her rights.

Second act

Meanwhile, Luke, who remained on the farm, amuses himself with open attentions to Hannah, whose modest behavior has already prompted foreman Martin to have a secret but irresistible passion. Mabel's return with a copy of the will confirming her ownership of the farm leads to Luke's immediate eviction. Mabel implies that she wants to marry Martin in order to officially give him the right to protect her. Martin reacts with dismay to this announcement, since, as I said, he loves Hannah and prefers the fulfillment of his love to the proposed golden future.

Third act

Mabel doubts Martin's sincerity and looks at the unhappy Hannah with barely concealed jealousy, although she has shown her admirer no approval. Hannah is also the victim of a mysterious accident: She is the daughter of an alleged arsonist, whose crime included the destruction of a foundry near the farm a few years earlier. Countless innocent people lost their jobs as a result. This horrific event is often alluded to as the plot progresses, and there is little doubt that Luke is the real culprit.

Fourth act

Hannah herself reveals the truth about the fire when she sees Luke, now insane with anger at having been evicted from the farm, as in another fire with a torch, and suddenly remembers her childhood in a vision. Luke tries to stop her from exposing him as the criminal. However, she is assisted by Steenie, a grumpy old servant of the farm. Luke tries to escape from his accusers and finds himself at the edge of a ravine. He tries to hold on to a tree, but it is struck by lightning and falls with Luke into the abyss.

Music numbers

The music numbers are designated as follows in the piano reduction:

  • Illustrated Overture

first act

  • No. 1. Introduction: "What's that?" (Steenie, choir)
  • No. 2. Recitative: "While supper's getting ready" (Steenie, choir)
  • No. 2a. Song: "The sky with crimson" (Steenie, choir)
  • No. 3. Recit: "You all are here" (Mabel, Martin, choir)
  • No. 3a. Song: "A blessing on the harvest fall" (Martin)
  • No. 4. Recit: "A blessing" (Mabel, Martin)
  • No. 4a. Quartet with Chorus: "Who comes yonder" (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Steenie, choir)
  • No. 5. Recit & Song: "O Providence" - "When my ample store" (Mabel)
  • No. 6. Finale: "Of all the trades" (Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, choir)
  • No. 6a. Quartet with Chorus: "Every thought" (Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, choir)

Second act

  • No. 7. Scena: "For nearly a month" (Luke)
  • No. 8. Recit: "Take this" (Hannah, Luke, choir)
  • No. 8a. Duet with Chorus: "Come here my pretty dear" (Hannah, Luke, Chor)
  • No. 9. Part Song: "Harvest home" (choir)
  • No. 10. Recit: "Well done brave hearts" (Hannah, Martin)
  • No. 10a. Ballad: "Wear this flower and think of me" (Martin)
  • No. 11. Harvest Home Scene (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Steenie, Chor)
  • No. 11a. Song with Chorus: "Here's a health to our worthy master" (Luke)
  • No. 12. Recit: "She's gone" (Mabel, Martin)
  • No. 12a. Trio: "Zooks this is a glorious place" (Mabel, Martin, Luke)
  • No. 13. Scena: "She loves me" (Martin)
  • No. 13a. Romance: "She is my appointed fate" (Mabel)

Third act

  • No. 14. Chorus: "Here you may lead a tranquil life" (chorus)
  • No. 15. Aria: "On my heart a weight" (Hannah)
  • No. 16. Recit: "Yes there she sits" (Martin)
  • No. 16a. Duet: "The generous Mabel" (Hannah, Martin)
  • No. 16b. Duettino: "The thought that so long" (Hannah, Martin)
  • No. 17. Recit: "Nay, Hannah" (Martin)
  • No. 17a. Romance: "Oh Hannah, Hannah, Hannah speak" (Martin)
  • No. 18. Finale: "How calm and bright" (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, choir)
  • No. 18a. Duet: "The brightest hope" (Hannah, Mabel)

Fourth act

  • No. 19. Entr'acte
  • No. 19a. Romance: "Wildly flies my spinning whell" (Mabel)
  • No. 20. Recit: "Mistress" (Mabel, Martin)
  • No. 20a. Duet: "To Helvellyn poor i came" (Mabel, Martin)
  • No. 21. Finale: "I have toil'd up the hill" (all)
  • No. 21a. Song: "I've watched him" (Hannah)

Work history

Euphrosyne Parepa (Mabel), Helen Lemmens-Sherrington (Hannah), Alberto Lawrence (Luke), Henry Corri (Old Steenie) and Henry Haigh (Martin) sang the premiere in Covent Garden on November 3, 1864 . The orchestra was directed by John Tiplady Carrodus and conducted by Alfred Mellon . There were about 18-20 performances.

Contemporary reports

  • The Observer, November 6, 1864, p.  6 .
  • The Musical World of November 5, 1864, pp  706 - 707 .
  • The Musical World, November 19, 1864, p.  737 .
  • The Musical World of 26 November, 1864, pp  755 - 756 .
  • The Musical Standard of 19 November 1864 p  161 - 162 .
  • The Reader, November 12, 1864, p.  617 .
  • The Reader November 19, 1864, pp  649 - 650 .
  • The Orchestra of November 12, 1864, pp  105 - 106 .
  • The Athenaeum, November 12, 1864, p.  642 .
  • The Musical Monthly from Dec. 1864, pp  190 - 191 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Review of the premiere. In: The Musical World, November 5, 1864, pp. 706-707.
  2. ^ Henry Charles Banister: George Alexander Macfarren: his life, works, and influence. G. Bell & sons, London 1881 ( online in Internet Archive ).
  3. ↑ role assignments according to the piano reduction.