Esclarmonde

"Esclarmonde" [IPA|ɛskɭaɾ'mɔːd] is an opera ("Opéra romanesque") in four acts and eight tableaux, with prologue and epilogue by Jules Massenet, to a French libretto by Alfred-Édouard Blau and Louis Ferdinand de Gramont, based on the medieval novel (tale) "Parthénopéus de Blois". [The tale "Parthenopeus of Blois" was discovered by Alfred Blau in the library of Blois in 1871, at first offered in 1882 to the Belgian composer François-Auguste Gevaert who, however, did nothing with it.] . It was first performed at the Opéra Comique in Paris on May 14, 1889 with American soprano Sybil Sanderson in the title role [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C04EFDF1030E633A25755C1A9639C94689FD7CF "Sybil Sanderson's Triumph", New York Times, May 1889] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=2&res=9907E1DE133AE033A25754C1A9609C94689FD7CF&oref=slogin&oref=slogin "Miss Sanderson in Massenet's opera", New York Times, June 1, 1889] .] "Esclarmonde" is perhaps Massenet's most ambitious work for the stage and is his most "Wagnerian" in style and scope [But, perhaps, to describe it as "wagnerian" is a little overstatement. Leitmotivs are clear and distict, "Wagner-like" to be sure, but beyond some melodic or harmonic resemblance to ones used by Wagner (particularly in his Tristan und Isolde, Rheingold, or Götterdämmerung), they are nevertheless very original. And, unlike in Wagner, and in so many other composers, there is no tragedy, death or self-sacrifice involved.] . It has been revived sporadically in the modern era, most notably during the 1970s with acclaimed soprano Joan Sutherland, conducted by Massenet champion Richard Bonynge. The role of Esclarmonde is notoriously difficult to sing, [cite book |title=The Standard Opera Guide |last=Upton |first=George P. |coauthors=Borowski, Felix |year=1928 |publisher=Blue Ribbon Books |location=New York |pages=181-83Upton describes one of Esclarmonde's aria in the third act as "extremely brillant and difficult, making exacting demands upon the voice." And no wonder: in act 3, for instance, are some numerous moments requiring voice range, as written, from the middle C up to top G (over top C)! Even though Massenet himself allowed some "scale down" on the highest note used (from G5 to "only" E5 flat), still it is higher than average soprano can go. Moreover, long lasting legato, jumps from high register to the low (with full dynamic range), trills and staccato on high notes, make all that role unusually difficult and taxing for average soprano so sing.] with stratospheric coloratura passages that are possible for only the most gifted of performers.

Primary Roles

ynopsis

The story is based on a medieval legend and revolves around Esclarmonde, an empress and sorceress of Byzantium. Sequestered by her emperor father, Phorcas, who has recently abdicated the throne to her, she bemoans her love for Roland, a knight and Count of Blois, believing she will never be allowed to be with him. Following a suggestion from her sister, Parséis, Esclarmonde uses her magic powers to transfer Roland to the magic island where she joins him and continues to do so on a nightly basis and, hiding behind a veil, never reveals her identity. She reveals to him also that his country is in danger, attacked and besieged by the Saracens, and grants him the magic sword with help of which he will be capable to defeat the enemy, and will serve him well as long as he will remain faithful to her.

Roland then goes to help the besieged Blois and wins the battle with the leader of the Saracens, and in reward is granted by the king of France the hand of his royal daughter. But Roland refuses to accept that offer not disclosing the reason of doing so. When he finally confesses his nightly tryst to the Bishop of Blois, Bishop and a group of monks intervene on her arrival, performing an exorcism and in crucial moment manages to tear off her veil and thus reveals her identity. Feeling betrayed, Esclarmonde, in her bravura aria "O Roland, tu m'as trahie, et me voilà", rebukes Roland for his faithlessness. Although he then tries at the last moment to use his sword to defend her from monks, the magic sword shatters to pieces, and Esclarmonde, surrounding herself in ring of fire, cursing Roland, disappears.

The ex-emperor, upon hearing of Esclarmonde's disobedience, summons her to himself and insists she renounce Roland on threat of losing her magic powers and his execution. Reluctantly, she submits and when Roland is brought before her she implores him to forget her. There is then a tournament to award a victorious knight Esclarmonde's hand in marriage. When the winner, clad all in black, is asked his name, he replies "despair," and refuses the hand of Esclarmonde. Esclarmonde recognizes that voice immediately, however, as the one belonging to Roland, and when her veil is lifted he recognizes her as well and all hail the new empress and her valiant consort.

History of performances

* World premiere at Opéra Comique, Paris on May 14, 1889. After the premiere there was 90 performances until the end of 1889, and 10 more the following year, Sybil Sanderson singing in all of them.

Next years bring performances at:
* Bordeaux (with Mme. Georgette Bréjean-Silver aka Bréjean-Graviére);
* premiere Brussels on November 27, 1890, at La Monnaie (with Mme. Marguerite Zinah de Nuovina);
* Lyons (with Mme. Verheyden aka Alice Verlet, and Mlle. Marie Vuillaume) [ [http://www.historicopera.com/index_main.htm Historic Opera Singers listings] ] ;
* Geneva;
* Saint Petersburg in 1890s (sung in Russian; there, for instance, natable stars were Eduard Krushevsky who debuted at at Mariinsky Theater conducting with great success "Esclarmonde" without any previous preparation, and tenors Ivan Yershov and Mikhail Mikhaylov who shared the role of Roland). In at least few performances there, early in 1892, Sybil Sanderson sang the title role, too ["Sybil Sanderson was called before the curtain 40 times at St. Petersburg recently, where she sang "Esclarmonde", Reference in Acadian Recorder, March 10, 1892, source: Patrick B. O'Neills, Halifax, NS, Newspapers, [http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/Theatre/Calendars/search_cal.cgi?field=all&order_by=DATE&terms=collection&limit=125] ]
* The U.S. premiere at the French Opera House, New Orleans on February 10, 1893. [Although Metropolitan Opera planned originally to show "Esclarmonde" already during 1890-91 season, that plan, however, never materialized then. For reference see inside of [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9405E0DF1239E033A25750C0A96E9C94619ED7CF "Amusements", New York Times, August 3, 1890] ]
* Paris revival 1921 (Fanny Heldy sung title role there)
* Only limited revivals during 1930s at Paris and Brussels.
* War Memorial Opera House (San Francisco) October/November 1974 (Joan Sutherland debut in the title role) [ [http://archive.sfopera.com/reports/rptOpera-id649.pdf SFopera Archives - document on all performances of "Esclarmonde"] ]
* The Metropolitan Opera 1976 (Joan Sutherland in the title role)
* The Royal Opera House, London, premiere on November 28, 1983, followed with other four performances in December that year (on 6th, 10th, 13th and 16th; Joan Sutherland singing for the last time the title role).
* Italian premiere at Teatro Regio di Torino on November 17, 1992 (8 other performances followed; in November: 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, and December: 1st and 2nd), Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Esclarmonde) (Dominique Gless sang the title role too, but only on November 28th and December 1st), Claudia Nicole Bandera (Parséïs), Alberto Cupido (Roland), Michele Pertusi (Phorcas), Manrico Biscotti (Bishop of Blois), Ivan Kiurkciev (Enéas), Boris Martinovic (Cléomer), conductor Alain Guignal.
* Teatro Massimo (Palermo), January 7, 1993 (7 other performances followed that same month: on 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, and 26th), the cast from premiere: Denia Mazzola Gavazzeni (Esclarmonde) (Rosella Redoglia sang the title role too, but only on January 24th), Elena Zilio (Parséïs), Pietro Ballo (Roland), Jean Philippe Courtis (Phorcas), Tom Fox (baritone) (Bishop of Blois), Salvatore Ragonese (Enéas), (Bonaldo Giaiotti (Cléomer), directed by Jean-Louis Pichon, conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni.
* Chelsea Opera Group (COG), (United Kingdom), the concert performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on June 6, 1998, Raphaëlle Farman (Esclarmonde), Harriet Williams (Parséïs), Justin Lavender (Roland), Jeremy White (Phorcas), Roberto Salvatori (Bishop of Blois), Richard Robson (Cléomer), Stephen Rooke (Enéas); Diana Cummings (Concertmaster), Christopher Fifield (Chorus Master), conducted by Howard Williams [ [http://www.chelseaoperagroup.org.uk/index.htm Chelsea Opera Group Web site with archives] ] .
* Washington Concert Opera, April 8, 2005: concert performance, Celena Shafer (in title role), Gigi Mitchell-Velasco (Parséis), Robert Breault (Roland), Dean Peterson (Phorcas), Robert Gardner (Bishop of Blois), François Loup (Cléomer), Antony Walker conducting; in Lisner Auditorium of the George Washington University. [ [http://www.colbertartists.com/ArtistBio.asp?ID=45&DT=New Celena Shafer Profile] ] [ [http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/04/massenets-esclarmonde-with-washington.html Review from Ionarts, part 1] ] [ [http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/04/esclarmonde-part-2.html Review from Ionarts, part 2] ] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42725-2005Apr10.html Review from Washington Post] ]

Available recordings

* "Esclarmonde" (November 8, 1974, live broadcast). Clifford Grant (The Emperor Phorcas), Joan Sutherland (Esclarmonde), Huguette Tourangeau (Parséis), Giacomo Aragall (The Chevalier Roland), William Harness (Enéas), Philip Booth (Cléomen, King of France), Robert Kerns (The Bishop of Blois), Gary Burgess (A Saracen Envoy, A Byzantine Herald), War Memorial Opera House Orchestra and Chorus, cond. Richard Bonynge. Living Stage. 1110 (2CDs), MONO (quasi-stereo) [See Stereophonic sound] .
* "Esclarmonde" (recorded July 1975, Kingsway Hall, London). Joan Sutherland (Esclarmonde), Huguette Tourangeau (Parséis), Clifford Grant (L'Empereur Phorcas), Giacomo Aragall (Le Chevalier Roland), Louis Quilico (L'Evêque de Blois), Ryland Davies (Enéas), Robert Lloyd (Cléomer, Roi de France), John Alldis Choir, National Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Richard Bonynge. Decca. 475 501-2 or 425-651-2 or 475-7914 (3CDs). STEREO STUDIO [ [http://www.operatoday.com/content/2007/05/massenet_esclar.php Opera Today review of DECCA recording] ] .
* "Esclarmonde" (December 11, 1976): Metropolitan Opera LIVE radio broadcast. Joan Sutherland, Huguette Tourangeau, Clifford Grant, Giacomo (Jaime) Aragall, Louis Quilico, cond. Richard Bonynge, available from the MetOpera radio during periodical re-broadcasts on [http://www.sirius.com Sirius Radio] or "music on demand" at [http://www.real.com/rhapsody Rhapsody] .
* "Esclarmonde" (November 28, 1983): The Royal Opera, live in-house recording. Joan Sutherland, Diana Montagne, Gwynne Howell, Ernesto Veronelli, Jonathan Summers, Geofrey Moses, cond. Richard Bonynge. Available as the Web stream at [http://www.operatoday.com/content/2008/04/massenet_esclar_1.php Opera Today archives]
* "Esclarmonde" (November/December 1992): Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Esclarmonde), Teatro Regio di Torino LIVE; VHS Video Cassette; - Charles Handelman - Live Opera 09122 (NTSC) (2002).
* "Esclarmonde" (recorded LIVE October/November 1992 at Massenet Festival in Saint Étienne, Grand Théâtre de la Maison de la Culture et de la Communication). Denia Mazzola-Gavazzeni [ [http://www.deniamazzola.com/ Denia Mazzola Gavazzeni web-site] ] ; Hélèn Perraguin; José Sempere; Jean-Philippe Courtis; Christian Tréguier; Guy Gabelle; Christian Poulizac. Choeurs du Festival Massenet, Orchestre symphonique Franz Liszt, Budapest, cond. Patrick Fournillier. "Koch-Swann", released 1994, 1269-2 (3CDs).

Instrumentation

* Woodwinds: 3 flutes (incl. also piccolo), 3 oboes (incl. also english horn), 3 clarinets (incl. also bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (incl. also double bassoon)
* Brass: 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
* Timpani, percussion (incl. snare drum, triangle, tamtam, glockenspiel, crash cymbals, orchestral bass drum)
* Organ
* Strings, 2 harps
* Mixed Choir, children's choir

Notes

References

*cite book |title=Esclarmonde: Vocal Score, K06881 |last=Massenet |first=Jules |publisher=Kalmus Edition |location=New York, NY |url=http://www.kalmus.com/product_detail.php?id=40984 |isbn=0757937152
*cite book |title=Esclarmonde, Partitur (orchestral score) |last=Massenet |first=Jules |year=c1890 |publisher=Georges Hartmann |oclc=165310045
*cite book |title=Jules Massenet, Esclarmonde: dossier de presse parisienne |last=Fauser |first=Annegret |year=c2001 |publisher=Weinsberg: L. Gallard |isbn=3925934472
*cite book |title=Esclarmonde |last=Gautier |first=Henri |year=Paris, 19--? |oclc=70476204
*cite book |title=Les Esclarmonde: La femme et la féminité dans l'imaginaire du catharisme |last=Maurin |first=Krystel |year=c1995 |publisher=Toulouse cedex: Editions Privat |isbn=2708953842
*cite book |title=Massenet's use of Leitmotive in Esclarmonde |last=Landry |first=Michael |year= |publisher=Ottawa: National Library of Canada: Thesis Univ. of Alberta |isbn=0315060468 9780315060463
*cite book |title=Opera and the ordered nation: Massenet's Esclarmonde in performance at the 1889 Paris Exposition |last=Lorenzo |first=Elizabeth Ann |year=2005 |publisher=UCLA, Thesis (Ph-D)
*cite book |title=Esclarmonde: French and English libretto |last=Blau |first=Alfred |coauthors=Victor Girard and Stanley Farwig |year=c1976 |publisher=New York, G. Schirmer |oclc=2601189
*cite book |title=Article: Esclarmonde by Jules Massenet |last=Albright |first=W. |year=2006 |publisher=Opera Quarterly, 22, no.1, pp.184-185
*cite book |title=Article: Massenet's Esclarmonde |last=Kimball |first=C. |year=1996 |publisher=Opera Quarterly, 12, no.4, pp.130-131

External links

* [http://spikesworld.spike-jamie.com/opera/ESCLARMONDE.pdf Extensive synopsis of "Esclarmonde"]
* [http://www.bobsuniverse.com/BWJM/Works/operas/07Esclarmonde/Esclarmonde.htm Bob's World of Massenet about "Esclarmonde"]
* [http://www.karadar.com/Librettos/massenet_esclarmonde.html French libretto of "Esclarmonde"]
* [http://www.operamanager.com/libretti/11024.rtf French libretto (from other source)]
* [http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLMAESCL.HTM Discography for "Esclarmonde"]
* [http://archive.sfopera.com/qry1operalist.asp San Francisco Opera database]
* [http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/frame.htm The Met database]
* [http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performances.aspx ROH database (collections online)]

ee also

*Huon of Bordeaux