The Wreckers (opera)

"The Wreckers" is an opera in three acts, composed by Dame Ethel Smyth to a libretto in French by Henry Brewster. The first performance took place at the Neues Theater, Leipzig in a German translation by John Bernhoff as "Strandrecht" on 11 November, 1906.

Composition and performance history

Old tales of Cornish villages where, on stormy nights, the inhabitants lured passing sailing ships onto to the rugged Atlantic coast were commonplace in the nineteenth century. The cargoes plundered were regarded as legitimate reward for the hardships endured in this isolated and barren part of the country. Therefore, when looking for a suitable theme for her third opera, it is little wonder that Smyth’s thoughts should turn to this dramatic, yet romantic subject.

The composition of the opera took several years, with Smyth herself visiting places where shipwrecks were said to have been engineered and interviewing anyone with evidence or memories of the wreckers. Eventually she passed her notes on to Henry Brewster, a close personal friend and writer, to prepare the libretto. Although an American by birth, he had been brought up in France and it was agreed that libretto should be in French, partly because Brewster was happier working in French, but also it was felt that there was a more realistic chance of the work being produced in France or Belgium than in England. [booklet with Conifer Classics recording]

Unfortunately all attempts to have the opera premiered in the French-speaking world came to nothing, and Smyth was forced to fall back on personal contacts in Leipzig, where she had studied, to get the work performed in an inferior German translation. Severe cuts were insisted on by the conductor, particularly in the third act, which Smyth felt was turned into an “incomprehensible jumble”. [booklet with Conifer Classics recording] Despite a successful first night and general critical approval, Smyth immediately withdrew the opera and took it to Prague where she hoped for a more sympathetic production. Regrettably the opera faired even worse than at its first performance, and a disappointed Smyth returned to England.

It was not until the eminent conduct Thomas Beecham championed the work that a complete, staged performance was achieved in England. This was at Her Majesty's Theatre on 22 June, 1909. Beecham also included "the Wreckers" in his first Covent Garden season in 1910.

Thereafter performances have been occasional, at best. No stage performances have taken place in England since 1939, but a concert performance was included in the Proms in 1994. It was most recently performed in concert performance by the American Symphony Orchestra in September 2007, marking its United States Premiere.

Roles

ynopsis

Act I

"A Cornish fishing village. Sunday evening"

On their way to chapel, villagers are drinking outside the tavern. Pascoe, the lay preacher, arrives and chastises them for taking alcohol on the Sabbath. He declares that this is why the Lord has stopped sending them ships to plunder. Lawrence, the lighthouse keeper, has another explanation: he has seen beacons burning on the cliffs and is certain someone is warning ships of the danger. The villagers vow to find the traitor in their midst and destroy him.

Mark, one of the younger fishermen, has been courting Avis, who is the daughter of the lighthouse keeper. His affections however, have now turned towards Thirza, the young wife of Pascoe. Unaware that Avis is spying on him, he serenades his new love while the other villagers are in the chapel, and to Avis’s jealous fury it is clear that his amorous feelings for Thirza are fully returned.

The villagers leave the chapel inspired by Pascoe’s fiery sermon to commit further bloody acts of plunder. The preacher upbraids his wife for not attending the service, but Thirza retorts that she can no longer endure life in the village and the merciless ways of the wreckers.

Pascoe is left alone with his thoughts. A storm is brewing and a ship is being drawn onto the rocks. Excitedly, the men of the village anticipate the rich pickings soon coming their way.

To everyone’s amazement Avis returns and denounces Pascoe as the traitor who has been warning the ships of danger. The men agree to keep a close watch on the preacher as they begin their preparations for the grim work ahead.

Act II

"A desolate seashore at the base of the cliffs"

Mark is collecting flotsam and driftwood. He is in fact the one responsible for the warning beacons. Just as he is about to set light to his bonfire using the flame of his torch he hears Thirza calling. She hurries to his side and warns him that other villagers are close by and that if he lights the fire they will see the flames and come to trap him.

The lovers embrace. At first Mark is intent on lighting his beacon, but when Thirza declares her love for him he stops, realizing he is putting her in danger as well as himself. Mark begs her to leave Pascoe and run away with him. She is reluctant at first, but gradually yields to his pleading. Triumphantly together they seize the torch and ignite the bonfire.

Pascoe arrives just in time to see the lovers making their escape. For a moment he sees his wife’s face in the moonlight and in a state of anguish collapses on the beach. He is still unconscious when Avis and the men from the village arrive. Finding Pascoe near the beacon they are certain that he is the traitor.

Act III

"The interior of a large cave"

An impromptu court has been convened and Lawrence has appointed himself as prosecutor since he was one of the men who discovered Pascoe, apparently red-handed. Pascoe refuses to acknowledge the court and ignores their questions. Avis declares that he is the victim of witchcraft, as he is clearly still under the spell of his young wife, Thirza.

The evidence seems clear. The crowd howl for Pascoe’s death, but at that moment Mark bursts into their midst and confesses that he was the one who betrayed them. Thirza also steps forward to acknowledge her share of the guilt. Avis tries to save Mark by claiming he spent the night with her, but the lovers are determined to meet their fate together.

The verdict is inevitable. The lovers are to be left chained as the incoming tide gradually fills the cave. Once more Pascoe begs Thirza to repent, but she again rejects him, preferring to die with Mark. The villagers leave as the waters begin to rise and ecstatically the lovers face death in each other's arms.

Selected recordings

*"The Wreckers", Anne-Marie Owens, Peter Sidhom, Justin Lavender, conducted by Odaline de la Martinez (CD – Conifer Classics, Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall,31 July, 1994).

Notes

References

* "The New Kobbe's Opera Book" edited by the Earl of Harewood and Antony Peattie. Ebury Press. London 1997. ISBN 0-09-181410-3
* "The Viking Opera Guide" edited by Amanda Holden with Nicholas Kenyon and Stephen Walsh. Penguin Group. London 1993. ISBN 0-670-81292-7