Owen Wingrave
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| Original title: | Owen Wingrave |
Benjamin Britten in the 1960s |
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| Original language: | English |
| Music: | Benjamin Britten |
| Libretto : | Myfanwy Piper |
| Literary source: | Henry James |
| Premiere: | May 16, 1971 |
| Playing time: | approx. 2 hours |
| Place and time of the action: | England, late 19th century |
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Owen Wingrave is an opera in two acts based on the short story of the same name by Henry James (1893). The opera was produced for television and first broadcast on the BBC on May 16, 1971 . On the opera stage, Owen Wingrave was premiered at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London on May 10, 1973. Benjamin Britten composed the music and Myfanwy Piper wrote the libretto for the piece. For Britten, himself a pacifist and conscientious objector during World War II, working on Owen Wingrave was an expression of his own convictions. The opera lasts about 2 hours.
action
The opera is set in a military academy and in Paramore, the Wingraves family estate, in the late 19th century.
Act 1
Owen tells his military instructor, Mr. Coyle, of his aversion to war. Mr. Coyle warns Owen that his family will not accept his attitude. But Owen cannot be changed. Lechmere, a student at the military academy, Mr. and Mrs. Coyle decide to dissuade Owen from his "strange ideas". After Owen's aunt Miss Wingrave is informed, Owen is called to Paramore.
Upon arriving in Paramore, Mrs. Julian, Owen's fiancée Kate and Miss Wingrave cursed Owen and reminded him of the Wingrave family's proud military tradition. After a week Lechmere, Mr. and Mrs. Coyle also arrive in Paramore. They condemn the way Owen is treated by his family, but side with the family. According to Mr. Coyle, Owen took this treatment on himself. Owen says he will declare war a crime.
Act 2
Kate informs Owen that she cannot accept his attitude before Sir Philip calls him for an interview. When Owen returns from this conversation, he informs those present that he has been disinherited. With Kate and Owen's relationship falling apart, Lechmere begins to flirt with Kate. Kate calls Owen a coward and, in order to prove her wrong, demands that he spend a night in the haunted room of the house. There are supposed to be ghosts in this haunted room since a father of the Wingrave family killed his son there in the past. Owen agrees and lets himself be locked in the haunted room.
The next morning, Kate's scream wakes the Wingrave family and their guests. Everyone rushes to Kate, who is standing at the door of the haunted room. Sir Philip opens the door and on the floor lies the dead Owen Wingrave.
roll
| role | Pitch | World premiere, May 16, 1971 (conductor: Benjamin Britten ) |
|---|---|---|
| Owen Wingrave | baritone | Benjamin Luxon |
| Spencer Coyle | Bass baritone | John Shirley Quirk |
| Lechmere | tenor | Nigel Douglas |
| Miss Wingrave | soprano | Sylvia Fisher |
| Mrs. Coyle | soprano | Heather Harper |
| Mrs. Julian | soprano | Jennifer Vyvyan |
| Kate Julian | Mezzo-soprano | Janet Baker |
| General Sir Philip Wingrave | tenor | Peter Pears |
| teller | tenor | Peter Pears |
| Choir | ||
Individual evidence
- ↑ "Owen Wingrave" by Henry James ( memento from July 19, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) on henryjames.org.uk (English), accessed on February 7, 2015.
- ↑ Owen Wingrave at the Frankfurt Opera ( Memento from February 7, 2015 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on February 7, 2015.
- ↑ Skeletons in the closet , April 2, 2007 article in the Guardian , accessed February 7, 2015.