Ivanhoe (Sullivan)
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| Title: | Ivanhoe |
Title page of the program booklet for the world premiere |
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| Shape: | “A Romantic Opera” in three acts |
| Original language: | English |
| Music: | Arthur Sullivan |
| Libretto : | Julian Sturgis |
| Literary source: | Walter Scott : Ivanhoe |
| Premiere: | January 31, 1891 |
| Place of premiere: | Royal English Opera London |
| Playing time: | about three hours |
| Place and time of the action: | England, late 12th century |
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Ivanhoe is an opera (original name: "A Romantic Opera") in three acts and nine pictures by Arthur Sullivan . The libretto by Julian Sturgis uses Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe . The premiere took place on January 31, 1891 at the Royal English Opera in London .
action
The following table of contents comes from Johannes Scholtze's Complete Opera Guide through the Repertoire Operas (2nd edition, Berlin 1910)
first act
Hall in Cedric's Castle.
Cedric, who rejected his son because the latter fell in love with Rowena, who comes from the royal family, is now hosting guests, namely the crusaders Bois Gilbert and de Bracy. Ivanhoe, disguised as a pilgrim, comes along and everyone tells of the crusade. But one person shone a light on everyone's bravery: this was Ivanhoe. Bois Gilbert only regrets that he cannot measure his strength with the famous Ivanhoe, but the pilgrim offers him the prospect of an encounter with him.
Rowena's room
Rowena loves Ivanhoe dearly. All your thoughts are with the brave youth. They bring a pilgrim to tell about Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe, who is again disguised as a pilgrim, learns that Rowena still loves him dearly.
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In front of the tournament gates in Ashby
King Richard defeated all opponents last day "as a black knight". Today Ivanhoe wins the prize because he has just put Bois Gilbert in the sand. When he bares his head in front of Rowena, he is recognized as Ivanhoe. Big cheers.
Second act
Hermitage in the forest
King Richard feasts bravely with Brother Tuck, a hermit. Outlawed Saxons bring the news that Cedric's castle has been attacked by the Templar and Rowena has been dragged away captured. Ivanhoe was also fatally wounded and taken prisoner. King Richard leaves immediately to the rescue.
In front of the castle
De Bracy solicits Cedric for Rowena's hand, he wants to save his son Ivanhoe. Cedric rejects de Bracy. His son is dead for him. The Templar has meanwhile fallen in love with the Jewess Rebecca.
Tower room
The Templar wants to make Rebecca his own and force his desires. But when the girl is about to jump out of the window, the alarm goes off, because enemies are advancing towards the castle and the Templar has to hurry towards the attacking.
Third act
Chamber in the castle
The noise of battle awakens the wounded Ivanhoe from sleep. Rebecca takes care of the sick person and has to tell him about the progress of the fight. The attackers win, the Templar rushes into the room and drags Rebecca away with him, while Ivanhoe is rescued from the burning tower room by King Richard.
In the forest in front of the castle
King Richard reconciles father and son, and Rowena is allowed to shake hands with Ivanhoe to make the marriage covenant. The Jew tells Isaac that his daughter Rebecca is to be burned as a sorceress by the Templars. Ivanhoe, who is still not cured, immediately decides to rush to the aid of his nurse.
In the Tempelstowe
Ivanhoe kills Bois Gilbert in a duel and saves Rebecca. Great final choir.
orchestra
The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:
- Woodwinds : piccolo , two flutes , two oboes , English horn , two clarinets , bass clarinet , two bassoons , contrabassoon
- Brass : four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , tuba
- Timpani , percussion : cymbals , triangle
- harp
- Strings
- Incidental music : four bass trumpets
Work history
The first performance on January 31, 1891 at the Royal English Opera in London was directed by the conductor François Cellier . Directed by Hugh Moss and set by Hawes Craven. The singers were Norman Salmond (Richard the Lionheart), Richard Green (Prince John), Eugène Oudin (Brian de Bois Guilbert), Charles Kenningham (Maurice de Bracy), Adams Owen (Lucas de Beaumanoir), David Ffrangcon-Davies (Cedric), Ben Gray Davies (Wilfred von Ivanhoe), Avon Saxon (Friar Tuck), Charles Copland (Isaac von York), WH Stephens (Locksley), Frederick Bovill (de Bracys Knappe), Esther Palliser (Rowena), Marie Groebl (Ulrica) and Margaret McIntyre (Rebecca).
Recordings
- 1970? - Joseph Vandernoot (conductor), Fulham Municipal Orchestra and Chorus.
Oliver Broome (Richard the Lionheart), Carl Murray (Prince John), Antony Ransome (Brian de Bois Guilbert), Emlyn Ellis (Maurice de Bracy), Stanley Marut (Lucas de Beaumanoir), Christopher Davies (Cedric), Keith McDonald (Wilfred von Ivanhoe), David Winnard (Friar Tuck), Glenn Wilson (Isaac von York), Peter Nelson (Locksley), Peter Wheble (de Bracys Knappe), Daphne Drake (Rowena), Patricia Sabin (Ulrica), Doreen Millman (Rebecca).
Video; live from the Beaufort Opera.
Rare Recorded Editions SRRE 143/4/5. - 1989 - David Lyle (conductor), Prince Consort Orchestra, The Prince Consort Chorus, Chorus of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Royal Choral Union.
Richard Bourjo (Richard the Lionheart), David Blackwood (Prince John), Ivor Klayman (Brian de Bois Guilbert), Walter Anderson (Maurice de Bracy), Scott Cooper (Lucas de Beaumanoir and Friar Tuck), Bruce Graham (Cedric and Locksley), Alan Borthwick (Wilfred von Ivanhoe), Simon Boothroyd (Isaac von York), George McHollan (de Bracys Knappe), Rachel Cowan (Rowena), Frances McCafferty (Ulrica), Irene Drummond (Rebecca).
Studio shot.
Pearl CD: 9615, Pearl SHE CDS 9615. - 2009 - David Lloyd-Jones (conductor), BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Adrian Partington Singers.
Neal Davies (Richard the Lionheart), Stephen Gadd (Prince John), James Rutherford (Brian de Bois Guilbert), Peter Wedd (Maurice de Bracy), Peter Rose (Cedric), Toby Spence (Wilfred von Ivanhoe), Matthew Brook (Friar Tuck ), Leigh Melrose (Isaac of York), Andrew Staples (Locksley), Janice Watson (Rowena), Catherine Wyn-Rogers (Ulrica), Geraldine McGreevy (Rebecca).
Chandos CHAN 10578 (3 CDs).
Web links
- Ivanhoe : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Work information and libretto (English) as full text on operalib.eu
- Supplement to the CD CHAN 10578 on the Chandos label
Individual evidence
- ↑ Johannes Scholtze (Ed.): Complete opera guide through the repertoire operas. 2nd edition, Mode, Berlin 1910, p. 445 f ( Textarchiv - Internet Archive ).
- ↑ George Low: Ivanhoe. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater . Volume 6: Works. Spontini - Zumsteeg. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1997, ISBN 3-492-02421-1 , pp. 194-195.
- ↑ January 31, 1891: "Ivanhoe". In: L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia ., Accessed on March 28, 2019.
- ↑ a b Sullivan, Arthur. In: Andreas Ommer: Directory of all complete opera recordings (= Zeno.org . Volume 20). Directmedia, Berlin 2005.
- ↑ Information on CD CHAN 10578 on the Chandos label, accessed on March 28, 2019.