Esmeralda (opera)

Last updated
Esmeralda
Opera by Arthur Goring Thomas
Arthur-Goring-Thomas-1892.jpg
The composer in 1892
Librettist
LanguageEnglish
Based on Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Premiere
26 March 1883 (1883-03-26)

Esmeralda is an opera in four acts composed by Arthur Goring Thomas to an English-language libretto by Theo Marzials and Alberto Randegger based on Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame . It premiered in London on 26 March 1883 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with Georgina Burns in the title role and Barton McGuckin as her lover, Phoebus.

Contents

Background

Esmeralda was Thomas's first opera to receive a full staging. He dedicated it to Pauline Viardot. [1] It was commissioned by the Carl Rosa Opera Company following a very successful performance of excerpts from his opera The Light of the Harem in 1879 at the Royal Academy of Music where he was a student at the time. [2] Alberto Randegger (the musical director of the Carl Rosa company) and the eccentric British poet Theo Marzials co-wrote the libretto. Its subject, Esmeralda, a central protagonist in Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame), had already been the focus of several earlier operas, including Louise Bertin's La Esmeralda (1836), Alexander Dargomyzhsky's Esmeralda (1847), and Fabio Campana's Esmeralda (1869).

Selections from Esmeralda, sheet music published by Oliver Distson & Co., 1883 Esmeralda by Goring Thomas sheet music.jpg
Selections from Esmeralda, sheet music published by Oliver Distson & Co., 1883

In the tragic denouement of Hugo's original novel, Esmeralda dies on the scaffold. However, Marzials and Randegger's libretto gave the story a happy ending, a decision heavily criticised in a review of the premiere published in The Theatre :

That Esmeralda and Phoebus should get married at the close of the fourth act, and live happily for ever after, is all very well from the school-girl novel-reading point of view; but, as a new ending to Notre Dame de Paris, it appears to me no less revolting than impertinent. [3]

Performance history

The premiere of Esmeralda was staged by the Carl Rosa company on 26 March 1883 at London's Drury Lane Theatre in a performance conducted by Alberto Randegger. [4] It was given its Scottish premiere at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh in November of that year, and over the next two decades proved to be popular both in London and in British provincial theatres. [5] [6] It was performed in German translation in Cologne and Hamburg in 1885, [2] and was revived in Scotland in 1886 when it was toured to multiple theatres. [7] In 1888, the opera reached Australia, where it was staged in Melbourne by Amy Sherwin and her company of singers. [8] A revised version of Esmeralda was performed in a French translation of the libretto by Paul Milliet at the Royal Opera House in London on 12 July 1890 [2] with Jean de Reszke as Phoebus and Nellie Melba in the title role. The revised version was also performed in English for the US premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City on 19 November 1900. [9] The following month the same company staged Esmeralda in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre. [10]

An attempt by the Carl Rosa company to revive Esmeralda in 1908 at the Royal Opera House drew very small audiences. [11] It eventually fell into obscurity, although individual arias and the ballet music from the opera were performed at 33 separate Henry Wood Promenade Concerts between 1895 and 1930. [12] There are no complete recordings of Esmeralda, but Webster Booth recorded its main tenor aria, "O Vision entrancing", in 1944 with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Sargent. An earlier recording of the aria sung by Thomas Burke to a piano accompaniment appears on The Record of Singing , Volume 3 (1926-1939). The baritone aria "What would I do for my Queen?" was included on a double-LP Opera Viva issue devoted to British opera, sung by Mark Hoffman with the Orchestra of Opera Viva conducted by Leslie Head.

Roles

Georgina Burns (1860-1932), Esmeralda in the 1883 premiere Giorgina Burns.jpg
Georgina Burns (1860–1932), Esmeralda in the 1883 premiere
Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 26 March 1883 [3]
Conductor: Alberto Randegger
Esmeralda, a Gypsy girl soprano Georgina Burns
Phoebus de Châteaupers, captain of the king's archers tenor Barton McGuckin
Claude Frollo, Archdeacon of Notre-Dame Cathedral baritone William Ludwig
Quasimodo, a hunchback, adopted son of FrollobaritoneLeslie Crotty
Fleur-de-Lys, betrothed to PhoebussopranoClara Perry
Pierre Gringoire, a poet, married to Esmeraldatenor Ben Davies
Lady Lois, governess to Fleur-de-Lys mezzo-soprano Leah Don
Clopin, King of the Beggarsbaritone G. H. Snazelle
Marquis de ChevreusebaritoneJ. H. Stilliard
Gypsies, beggars, party guests

Synopsis

Setting: Paris in the 15th century [13]

Act 1

The Court of Miracles depicted in an illustration by Gustave Dore for The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Cour des miracles.JPG
The Court of Miracles depicted in an illustration by Gustave Doré for The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

In a Paris slum (Court of Miracles), the poet Gringoire has been surrounded by a mob of beggars who threaten to kill him unless he marries one of the crowd. Esmeralda, a Romani dancing girl steps forward and offers to marry him, but stipulates privately to him that the marriage will be in name only. Meanwhile, Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre-Dame Cathedral, has fallen in love with Esmeralda. He arrives at the Court of Miracles and attempts to carry her off with the help of the hunchback Quasimodo, his adopted son. She is rescued by Phoebus, a captain in the king's archers, and the pair immediately fall in love. Frollo manages to escape. Quasimodo is captured, but then freed on the entreaties of Esmeralda. and vows his eternal devotion to her.

Act 2

At the house of Fleur-de-Lys, who is betrothed to Phoebus, a gathering is underway. Away from the crowd of guests, Phoebus soliloquizes on his love for Esmeralda. She then appears outside the house dancing in the street with a band of Romani. When Fleur-de-Lys invites her inside, Esmeralda and Phoebus recognize each other and he declares his love for her in the presence of Fleur-de-Lys and her guests. Fleur-de-Lys is distraught.

Act 3

Gringoire arrives at Esmeralda's garret demanding his marital rights, but she drives him away with her dagger. Frollo and Quasimodo then arrive in another attempt to abduct Esmeralda. They conceal themselves on hearing Phoebus approaching. When Frollo hears Esmeralda and Phoebus declaring their love for each other, he stabs Phoebus. The crowd rushes in, and Frollo accuses Esmeralda of the stabbing. She is carried off to prison.

Act 4

Esmeralda is in prison and about to be burned at the stake. Frollo approaches and tells her that he will have her pardoned if she takes him as her lover. She refuses. Then Phoebus and Gringoire arrive. Frollo, enraged that her innocence can now be proven, tries to kill Phoebus again, but Quasimodo throws himself in front of Phoebus, and is stabbed by Frollo. Quasimodo dies and Frollo is arrested. Esmeralda and Phoebus are joyfully reunited.

Principal arias

Related Research Articles

<i>The Hunchback of Notre-Dame</i> 1831 novel by Victor Hugo

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. The title refers to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which features prominently throughout the novel. It focuses on the unfortunate story of Quasimodo, the Roma street dancer Esmeralda and Quasimodo's guardian the Archdeacon Claude Frollo in 15th-century Paris. All its elements—the Renaissance setting, impossible love affairs and marginalized characters—make the work a model of the literary themes of Romanticism.

<i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> (1939 film) 1939 film by William Dieterle

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1939 American romantic drama film starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara. Directed by William Dieterle and produced by Pandro S. Berman, the film is based on Victor Hugo's 1831 novel. The film is also noted for being the first film ever shown at the Cannes Film Festival before the rest of the festival was cancelled due to the start of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quasimodo</span> Character in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Quasimodo is a fictional character and the titular character of the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831) by Victor Hugo. Quasimodo was born with a hunchback alongside several facial deformities and feared by the townspeople as a sort of monster, but he finds sanctuary in an unlikely love that is fulfilled only in death.

Clopin Trouillefou is a fictional character first created in the 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by French author Victor Hugo, and subsequently adapted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre Gringore</span> French poet and playwright

Pierre Gringore was a popular French poet and playwright.

<i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> (1923 film) 1923 film

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1923 American drama film starring Lon Chaney, directed by Wallace Worsley, and produced by Carl Laemmle and Irving Thalberg. The supporting cast includes Patsy Ruth Miller, Norman Kerry, Nigel de Brulier, and Brandon Hurst. Distributed by Universal Pictures, the film was the studio's "Super Jewel" of 1923 and was their most successful silent film, grossing $3.5 million. The film premiered on September 2, 1923 at the Astor Theatre in New York, New York, then went into release on September 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude Frollo</span> Character of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Claude Frollo is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. He is an alchemist and intellectual, as well as a Catholic clergyman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Goring Thomas</span> English composer

Arthur Goring Thomas was an English composer.

<i>Notre-Dame de Paris</i> (musical) Sung-through French-Canadian musical

Notre-Dame de Paris was a sung-through French musical which debuted on 16 September 1998 in Paris. It is based upon the novel Notre-Dame de Paris by the French novelist Victor Hugo. The music was composed by Riccardo Cocciante and the lyrics are by Luc Plamondon.

<i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> (1956 film) 1956 film

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1956 French-Italian CinemaScope film version of Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, directed by Jean Delannoy and produced by Raymond Hakim and Robert Hakim. It stars American actor Anthony Quinn and Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida. The film is the first version of the novel to be made in color.

La Esmeralda is a ballet in three acts and five scenes, inspired by the 1831 novel Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo, originally choreographed by Jules Perrot to music by Cesare Pugni, with sets by William Grieve and costumes by Mme. Copère.

Esmeralda (<i>The Hunchback of Notre-Dame</i>) Fictional character from Victor Hugos The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Esmeralda, born Agnès, is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. She is a French Roma girl. She constantly attracts men with her seductive dances, and is rarely seen without her clever goat Djali. She is around 16 years old and has a kind and generous heart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain Phoebus</span> Fictional character

CapitainePhœbus de Châteaupers is a fictional character and the secondary antagonist of Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, Notre-Dame de Paris. He is the Captain of the King Louis XI's Archers. His name comes from Phoebus, the Greek god of the sun.

<i>The Hunchback</i> (1997 film) 1997 television film by Peter Medak

The Hunchback is a 1997 made-for-television romantic drama film based on Victor Hugo's iconic 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, directed by Peter Medak and produced by Stephane Reichel. It stars Richard Harris as Claude Frollo, Salma Hayek as Esmeralda and Mandy Patinkin as Quasimodo, the titular hunchback of Notre Dame. The film premiered on March 16, 1997 on TNT.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a British feature length adaptation of the 1831 novel by Victor Hugo, produced for television by the BBC in 1976 and aired on December 30 the same year. Directed by Alan Cooke and written by Robert Muller, the film stars Kenneth Haigh as Claude Frollo, Warren Clarke as Quasimodo and Michelle Newell as Esmeralda, and features the visual effects by Ian Scoones and the original music by Wilfred Josephs.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1986 Australian/American fantasy animated film and an adaptation of the 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1966 British television series, an adaptation of the 1831 novel by Victor Hugo, directed by James Cellan Jones. It starred Peter Woodthorpe as Quasimodo and Gay Hamilton as Esmeralda. The screenplay was by Vincent Tilsley. Although some photographs exist, no recordings of the production are known to have survived.

<i>La Esmeralda</i> (opera) 1836 opera by Louise Bertin

La Esmeralda is a grand opera in four acts composed by Louise Bertin. The libretto was written by Victor Hugo, who had adapted it from his 1831 novel Notre-Dame de Paris. The opera premiered at the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique in Paris on 14 November 1836 with Cornélie Falcon in the title role. Despite the lavish production, the premiere was a failure, and La Esmeralda proved to be the last opera composed by Bertin, although she lived for another 40 years.

Miss Esmeralda is a Victorian burlesque, in two acts, with music by Meyer Lutz and Robert Martin and a libretto by Fred Leslie, under his pseudonym "A. C. Torr", and Horace Mills. It is based on Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

<i>Esmeralda</i> (Battista) 1856 opera by Vincenzo Battista and Charles Jefferys

Esmeralda is an 1856 grand opera in four acts with a score by the Italian composer Vincenzo Battista. With a libretto in English by Charles Jefferys, it was based on Battista's Italian version Ermelinda (1851), which in turn was based on Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

References

  1. See Piano reduction (1885).
  2. 1 2 3 Squire, William Barclay (1911). "Thomas, Arthur Goring"  . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 865–866.
  3. 1 2 "Our Musical-Box". The Theatre . May 1883. pp.  287–290.
  4. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Esmeralda, 26 March 1883" . L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  5. OperaScotland.org. Esmeralda. Retrieved 26 June 2013
  6. The New York Times (20 November 1900). "Goring Thomas's Esmeralda produced at the Metropolitan". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  7. OperaScotland.org. Esmeralda 1883 Carl Rosa Opera Company. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. The New Zealand Herald (20 April 1888). "Miss Amy Sherwin", p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 1013.
  9. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Esmeralda, 19 November 1900" . L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  10. Chicago Tribune (1 January 1901). "Music and Drama: Esmeralda". Retrieved 27 June 2013 (subscription required)
  11. The Star (16 June 1908). "Musical Notes", p. 3. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  12. BBC Proms Archive. Esmeralda. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  13. Synopsis based on The New York Times (20 November 1900)