Ivanhoe (opera)
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Ivanhoe is a romantic opera in three acts based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by Julian Sturgis. It premiered at the Royal English Opera House on January 31 1891 for a consecutive run of 155 performances, which was then – as it is now – unheard of for a grand opera.
By 1891, Richard D'Oyly Carte had already earned great wealth as the impresario who produced the Savoy Operas, with music by Sullivan and librettos by W. S. Gilbert. Carte built the Royal English Opera house with the idea of doing for English grand opera what he had already done for light opera, and Sullivan was commissioned to write the venture's inaugural work. Departing from the usual practice for grand opera, Carte's opera house did not have a repertory. Instead, it presented Ivanhoe every night, with alternating casts.
When Ivanhoe finally closed in July, Carte had no new work to replace it, and the opera house had to close. It re-opened in November, with André Messager's La Basoche at first alternating in repertory with Ivanhoe, and then La Basoche alone, closing in January 1892. Notwithstanding Ivanhoe's success, the opera house was a failure, as Carte had not provided for a repertory to keep it open. (The building is known today as the Palace Theatre.) It was, as critic Hermann Klein observed, "the strangest comingling of success and failure ever chronicled in the history of British lyric enterprise!" [1]
There was a successful revival by the Carl Rosa Opera Company in 1895 and an unsuccessful production in Berlin. Then, aside from two performances in 1910 at the Royal Opera House, with Sir Thomas Beecham conducting, Ivanhoe disappeared from the professional repertory.
Numerous composers wrote operas based on Ivanhoe, including John Parry, Otto Nicolai (Il Templario), Heinrich Marschner (Der Templer Und Die Jüdin), and Michael William Balfe (Il Talismano).
Contents |
[edit] Roles
- Richard Coeur-de-Lion, King of England (Disguised as the Black Knight)
- Prince John
- Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert (Commander of the Knights Templar)
- Maurice de Bracy
- Lucas de Beaumanoir (Grand Master of the Templars)
- Cedric the Saxon (Thane of Rotherwood)
- Wilfred, Knight of Ivanhoe (His son, disguised as a Palmer)
- Friar Tuck
- Isaac of York
- Locksley
- De Bracy's Squire
- Oswald, Cedric's Steward
- The Lady Rowena (Ward of Cedric)
- Ulrica
- Rebecca (Daughter of Isaac of York)
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Act I
[edit] Scene 1
The Hall of Cedric of Rotherwood. Evening.
As Cedric's men prepare supper, he laments the King's many journeys abroad, the scurrilous behavior of the Norman knights, and the absence of his estranged son, Ivanhoe. Isaac of York, a Jew, enters and asks for shelter. Although Cedric considers Isaac's race accursed, he will not refuse Saxon hospitality.
A squire announces Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert and Maurice de Bracy, of the Knights Templar, who are on their way to a Royal tournament at Ashby. They are Normans, and Cedric, a Saxon, loathes them. However, they too are granted hospitality. Ivanhoe is with them, in disguise. De Bracy asks for Cedric's fair ward, Rowena, but Cedric says that she will only marry a Saxon.
Ivanhoe tells of a tournament he witnessed in the Holy Land where the English knights soundly defeated the Templars. Sir Brian was beaten by Ivanhoe, whom he wishes to challenge again. Rowena and the disguised Ivanhoe, whom no one recognizes, assure Sir Brian that Ivanhoe will meet his challenge.
After Rowena exits, Sir Brian and de Bracy agree that they will abduct her after the tournament at Ashby.
[edit] Scene 2
An Ante-Chamber in the Hall at Rotherwood
Rowena laments her absent lover, Ivanhoe. He enters, still disguised as a holy palmer. She tells him that she hopes to be with Ivanhoe again.
Ivanhoe tells Isaac that he has overheard Sir Brian planning to seize him and his beautiful daughter, Rebecca, the next day. Ivanhoe assures Isaac that they will be safe, and they leave for the tournament at Ashby.
[edit] Scene 3
The Tournament at Ashby
At the tournament, King Richard – disguised as the Black Knight – has made a great impression with his victories. Prince John enters with Rowena, who has been named Queen of Beauty for the tournament. The Prince shrugs off a message that his brother, the King, has escaped from France. The Prince asks for challengers to the Knights Templar. Ivanhoe, now in disguise as the Disinherited Knight, challenges Sir Brian. Although Ivanhoe is suffering from wounds received in an earlier battle, he defeats Sir Brian once again. Ignoring Ivanhoe's protest, a Herald removes his helmet, and he is recognized by Cedric and Rowena.
[edit] Act II
- Note: In the original design of the opera, the first two scenes of Act II were to have come in the reverse order. The present sequence was adopted to eliminate a time-consuming mid-act scene change. However, it introduced the anomaly that King Richard learns of Cedric and Rowena's capture before the audience has actually seen it on stage.
[edit] Scene 1
Friar Tuck's Hut, in the Forest at Copmanhurst
King Richard, who is in hiding after his escape, shares a feast with Friar Tuck and challenges him to a song contest. The King sings "I ask nor wealth nor courtier's praise," while the Friar sings "Ho, jolly Jenkin," which is the most popular detached excerpt from the opera.
Locksley (Robin Hood) enters with the urgent message that Cedric, Rowena and Ivanhoe have all been captured by the Templars, and are imprisoned at Torquilstone. The King and Locksley rush off to rescue them.
[edit] Scene 2
A Passageway in Torquilstone
Cedric and Rowena are prisoners, and De Bracy plans to forcibly marry her. De Bracy tells them that Ivanhoe, Isaac and Rebecca are also prisoners. He promises that Ivanhoe will be safe if Rowena and Cedric comply with his wishes. Cedric is prepared to sacrifice Ivanhoe, but Rowena offers herself to De Bracy. After they have left, Sir Brian enters, and sings passionately of his intention to woo, and win, Rebecca.
[edit] Scene 3
A Turret Chamber in Torquilstone
Ulrica warns Rebecca that she faces an evil and dark fate, and that death is the only path to safety. The despondent Rebecca prays for God's protection. Sir Brian enters, intent on raping Rebecca. She leaps on the parapet, threatening to jump. A bugle sounds, heralding the arrival of King Richard and his forces. Sir Brian rushes off to defend the castle.
[edit] Act III
[edit] Scene 1
A Room in Torquilstone
Ivanhoe, pale and weak from his wounds, sings of his love for Rowena, and falls asleep. Rebecca, who is in love with Ivanhoe, enters to tend him. When they hear distant trumpets, Rebecca goes to a window and describes the unfolding battle to the frustrated Ivanhoe, who complains that he is unable to participate. Ulrica sets the castle on fire. Sir Brian enters and carries off Rebecca. Ivanhoe is unable to protect her.
[edit] Scene 2
In the Forest
King Richard and Ivanhoe rest in a forest. De Bracy has been captured. The King sends him to Prince John with an ultimatum to surrender. Cedric and Rowena appear. At the King's urging, Cedric is reconciled with Ivanhoe, and agrees to Ivanhoe's marriage with Rowena.
Isaac enters in haste. The Templars have accused Rebecca of witchcraft, and sentenced her to burn at the stake. Ivanhoe rushes out to rescue her.
[edit] Scene 3
The Preceptory of the Templars, Templestowe
The funeral pyre has been built. Rebecca will be burned at the stake unless a champion is willing fight for her. Sir Brian urges them to relent, but the Templars take his irrational passion as further evidence of her witchcraft. Sir Brian offers to save her if she will agree to be his, but Rebecca refuses. Rebecca is bound to the stake.
The exhausted Ivanhoe arrives with his sword drawn, offering to fight for her. Rebecca tries to dissuade him, fearing that the wounded knight cannot prevail. Sir Brian attacks Ivanhoe, who appears to be beaten. But as Sir Brian is about to strike the fatal blow, he falls dead. The Templars regard this as proof of Rebecca's innocence, and she is freed. She gazes wistfully at Ivanhoe as he is reunited with Rowena, who has entered with Cedric and King Richard. The King banishes the Templars from English soil.
