Ragnheiður
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| Original title: | Ragnheiður |
Brynjólfur Sveinsson, Bishop of Skálholt |
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| Shape: | Opera in three acts |
| Original language: | Icelandic |
| Music: | Gunnar Thórðarson |
| Libretto : | Friðrik Erlingsson |
| Literary source: | historical event from the 17th century |
| Premiere: | Concert: August 2013 Scenic: March 1, 2014 |
| Place of premiere: | Concert : Skálholt Cathedral , scenic: Harpa Concert Hall , Reykjavík |
| Playing time: | approx. 2 ½ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | mainly Skálholt in Iceland, from 1660 |
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Ragnheiður is an opera in three acts by Gunnar Þórðarson (music) with a libretto by Friðrik Erlingsson. It was premiered in concert in August 2013 in the Skálholt Cathedral . The first scenic performance took place on March 1, 2014 at the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík.
action
The content of the opera is based on a historical event from the middle of the 17th century. Ragnheiður, the daughter of the Bishop of Skálholt in Iceland, fell in love with her teacher Daði. The bishop forced her to take a public oath of her virginity. When she gave birth to a child nine months later, there was a long discussion about whether she had perjured.
first act
Summer day in Skálholt, 1660
The bishop's daughter Ragnheiður looks at a flower and dreams of her impossible love for the teacher Daði. The workers, including the maid Ingibjörg, are enjoying the beautiful day. Ingibjörg has a secret relationship with the cathedral priest Sigurður, from whom she is expecting a child.
Skálholt is not only a bishopric, but also the location of a school complex. Bishop Brynjólfur Sveinsson swears his students to piety and obedience to him. He advises them that love affairs on the holy ground of Skálholt are a grave sin. Those who disregard their rules have no prospect of a degree.
Evening meeting in the living room
Þórður Þorláksson plays a viola d'amore . Their snail is carved in the shape of a head and is blindfolded. Þórður explains this as an allusion to the blindness of love. Ragnheiður's father compares love to a fly, which Þórður understands to mean that it flies from flower to flower. Ragnheiður himself had thought love was more of the flower. She asks Father Hallgrímur Pétursson for her opinion. For him, love is more like an eagle flying towards the sun with open eyes.
Bishop Brynjólfur has decided to give his daughter Þórður in marriage. He is expected to take over a bishopric and would therefore be the ideal son-in-law. Ragnheiður clearly shows her indignation that she was not asked. Although Hallgrímur asks her father to understand the young girl and points out the importance of love, the latter sticks to his decision. Hallgrímur gives Ragnheiður a book that once belonged to his late daughter, a friend of Ragnheiður. Brynjólfur lets Ragnheiður's teacher Daði and her confessor Sigurður promise that they will take good care of Ragnheiður throughout the winter until she is married to Þórður in the spring.
Night in Skálholt
Sigurður worries about his future. As soon as Ingibjörg's child is born, he will be dishonored. At the same time, he envy Brynjólfur his power.
Daði fell in love with Ragnheiður. Before choosing to follow his feelings (“Cupid”) or wisdom (“Athene”), he chooses Athene.
Sigurður tells Ingibjörg that he has found a solution to her problems: she should claim that Daði's child is. Even if he denied he would be dishonored. Ingibjörg is shocked by this suggestion. But Sigurður puts her under pressure: if she refuses, he will send her away.
Brynjólfur prays to the Mother of God for grace for his house and daughter.
Winter morning in Skálholt
Before the Latin lesson, Ragnheiður dreams again of her love for Daði, a hug and first kiss. Daði appears and starts teaching as usual. The translation of the Latin sentences eventually leads her to confess her love to him. The two get closer and kiss. They don't know that Ingibjörg is watching them.
Spring day in Skálholt
The workers talk about the rumors that Ingibjörg had started about Ragnheiður's relationship with their teacher.
Brynjólfur has a valuable book, the Sæmundar Edda by Sæmundur fróði . He tells Sigurður that Þórður should give it to the king as a gift to increase his career opportunities. Sigurður tells him about the rumors about his daughter. Since Brynjólfur does not believe him, he lets Ingibjörg confirm his statement. Sigurður believes that only a public oath of her virginity can restore Ragnheiður's reputation. Brynjólfur worries about his daughter. Sigurður assures Ingibjörg that Brynjólfur would rather send Daði away than humiliate his daughter in this way.
Ragnheiður and Daði meet again. They decide to be careful and wait until Daði has secured his future and they can get married. Daði is ready to continue his education abroad if necessary, even if it should take many years.
After Ragnheiður has withdrawn, Brynjólfur Daði confronts his relationship with his daughter. Daði assures him that the rumors are lies. Ragnheiður comes back and confirms that she loves Daði, but only as she loves many other things. That is not enough for Brynjólfur. He insists that she publicly swear her innocence in the cathedral. Ragnheiður warns him of her own pride as his daughter: if she is bowed, others will be bowed and broken too.
Skálholt on May 11, 1661
Before the ceremony, Helga comforts her niece Ragnheiður.
The oath
Ragnheiður swears on the Bible in front of the assembled congregation that it is still a virgin.
Sigurður's plan failed. There is now nothing left for him to do but leave the country. He steals the Sæmundar Edda, which he intends to present to the king in Copenhagen in order to secure his future.
Ragnheiður goes to Daði and seduces him. She says that after the bishop has got his way during the day, the night belongs to her.
Second act
Winter in Bræðratungu
The residents pray to God for help during the harsh winter.
Ragnheiður's night of love was not without consequences. She spends the winter with her aunt Helga, who knows about her situation. In order to hide the pregnancy, Helga has ordered that her maids make shapeless clothes for everyone - supposedly they should work particularly well against the cold.
Ragnheiður receives a letter from Daði who wants to come soon. Helga advises her to be careful with her correspondence, even though she knows that the truth will soon come out anyway. Ragnheiður sings a lullaby for her unborn child.
Daði is actually coming, but the reunion is only brief because he has decided to leave the country. Before parting, the two enjoy a last moment of happiness. Daði can't wait to get to know his son on his return.
After Daði's departure, Ragnheiður gives birth to her child.
Skálholt, April 20, 1662
Helga tells Brynjólfur that his daughter has given birth to a son and that Daði is the father. Brynjólfur is horrified. Although Hallgrímur points out that forty weeks have passed since the oath, Brynjólfur believes that Ragnheiður perjured and is doomed for all eternity. Hallgrímur sees only one way out: Ragnheiður must publicly confess her guilt in order to be forgiven. However, Brynjólfur insists on banning them from home. The child should be given to foster parents. There is a dispute between Helga and Brynjólfur about their different ideas about God. Brynjólfur believes that God demands obedience and submission in the first place, but Helga refers to his mercy. His God will never win because the merciful mother stands above him. Without sin, there would be no reason for forgiveness.
Helga meets Ingibjörg, who also gave birth to a child but was allowed to keep it. Ingibjörg feels no pity for Ragnheiður, who, as the bishop's daughter, will still have enough applicants. Nevertheless, Helga asks her to pray for Ragnheiður.
absolution
In a humiliating ceremony, Ragnheiður is supposed to publicly confess her guilt. But she always has to think about her child, who should not be forgiven.
Overwhelmed by pity for his daughter, Brynjólfur wants to send the Sæmundar Edda with a letter to the king in Denmark, asking him to restore his daughter's honor. But he finds out that the book has disappeared. Ingibjörg informs him that Sigurður took it with him when he left. Despite this, she still loves Sigurður. She is convinced that he will soon come back to take her.
Brynjólfur suffers from a remorse as he blames himself for his daughter's misfortune.
Copenhagen
Sigurður triumphs. He presented the stolen book to the king and was showered with honors. Now he can return home as a rich man and look for a wife. He doesn't waste any more thought on Ingibjörg. The less successful Daði, on the other hand, longs for Ragnheiður.
Skálholt, March 23, 1663
Ragnheiður is seriously ill and is dying. She finds consolation only in Helga and Hallgrímur. She always has to think about her son, because today is his first birthday. She asks Helga to tell him her life story later. Shortly afterwards she dies. Her called father can only mourn her death.
epilogue
Skálholt, ten years later
Ragnheiður's son also died at the age of twelve. The very aged Brynjólfur laments his loneliness at the two grave. Þórður, who has since succeeded him as bishop, tries in vain to comfort him. Shortly afterwards a stranger appears who greets Brynjólfur with his old title - it is Daði who was finally able to return. He only now learns of the death of his lover and his son. The opera ends with a lament by the choir.
layout
Instrumentation
The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:
- Woodwind : two flutes , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons
- Brass : three horns , two trumpets , two trombones
- Timpani , drums
- harp
- Strings : violin 1, violin 2, violas , cellos , double basses
music
The opera's music is romantic and does not require any modern hardships. The reviewer of the Opernwelt magazine writes of "lyrical melodies, rich strings, [...] harp whispers, flute tones, dramatic drum rolls" and recognizes echoes of Verdi, Massenet and "a lot of Puccini". Nevertheless, it is not about film music or musical, but about "three hours of great opera". Although the duets and ensembles are mainly performed in unison, the opera is "well done".
Work history
The composer Gunnar Þorðarson (born January 4, 1945) made a name for himself as a pop musician in Iceland in the 1960s. His band "Hljómar" was sometimes referred to as the "Icelandic Beatles". The libretto is by Friðrik Erlingsson, who had previously written novels, children's books and screenplays. For both of them, Ragnheiður is the first opera work.
The opera was first performed with great success in concert in the cathedral in Skálholt , the location of the action. All three performances there were sold out. The following year the Icelandic Opera produced its first scenic production in the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik, in the presence of the President and many representatives of the government and cultural life. It sang Þóra Einarsdóttir (Ragnheiður), Viðar Gunnarsson (Brynjólfur), Elmar Gilbertsson (Daði), Jóhann Smári Sævarsson (Sigurður), Elsa Waage (Helga), Guðrún Jóhanna Ólafsdógurþ (IngibjÁÓrsson), Ólafsdórgurur (Ingibrógrógur) Berg (Ingibrógrógursson), Ólafsdógursson (Ingibrógróg) Torfi), Björn Ingiberg Jónsson (Þórður) and Ingibjörg Ólafsdóttir (Margrét). The Icelandic Opera Orchestra played under the musical direction of Petri Sakari . The production was done by Stefán Baldursson, the stage by Gretar Reynisson, the costumes by Þórunn Sigríður Þorgrímsdóttir, the lighting design by Páll Ragnarsson and the choreography by Ingibjörg Björnsdóttir. Due to the tremendous success, the originally planned two performances were expanded to nine.
The world premiere was recorded on video and shown on the Internet in May 2017 in the bonus program of the Opera Platform .
Web links
- Ragnheiður on the Icelandic Opera website
- Þórðarson - Ragnheiður on The Opera Platform ( Memento from October 9, 2017 in the Internet Archive )
- Dagmar Trodler: Ragnheiður touched. Posted October 21, 2014 in the Icelandic Times.
- Maria Wolf: Review of the world premiere on icelandreview.com
Remarks
- ↑ The recording of the premiere was divided into two acts and an epilogue.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ragnheiður on the Icelandic Opera website, accessed June 18, 2017.
- ↑ End credits of the video broadcast of the world premiere.
- ↑ a b Wiebke Roloff: Longing for sweetness. In: Opernwelt from May 2014, p. 84.
- ^ Gunnar Thórðarson. Biography on ismus.is (Icelandic), accessed June 18, 2017.
- ^ Gunnar Thórðarson. Borgarlistamaður Reykjavíkur 2014. Biography (Icelandic) on musicallovertheworlddotcom.wordpress.com, accessed June 18, 2017.
- ↑ a b Benedikt Jóhannesson: From rock and roll to classical opera (PDF). In: Issues and Images - Iceland . Vol. 8 from January 2013, p. 27.
- ↑ Friðrik Erlingsson. Biography ( memento of April 9, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) on leikhusid.is (Icelandic), accessed on June 18, 2017.
- ↑ a b Maria Wolf: Review of the world premiere on icelandreview.com, accessed on June 18, 2017.
- ^ Opening credits of the video broadcast of the world premiere.
- ↑ a b Þórðarson - Ragnheiður on The Opera Platform ( Memento from October 9, 2017 in the Internet Archive ).