Fervaal

"Fervaal" is an opera by the French composer Vincent D'Indy, his Opus 40. The composer wrote his own libretto, based in part on the lyric poem "Axel" by the Swedish author Esaias Tegnér. D'Indy worked on the opera over the years 1889 to 1895 [cite journal | url=http://mq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/citation/XVIII/4/507 |last=Paul Landormy |first=M.D. Herter Norton | title=Vincent d'Indy | journal=The Musical Quarterly | volume=XVIII | issue=4 | pages=507–518 | date=1932 | accessdate=2007-08-03 | doi=10.1093/mq/XVIII.4.507] , and the score was published in 1895. "Fervaal" premiered at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels on March 12, 1897. It was subsequently produced in Paris in 1898, and again in that city in 1912. [Calvocoressi, M.D. "The Dramatic Works of Vincent D'Indy. "Fervaal" (June 1, 1921). "The Musical Times", 62 (940): 400-403.]

Contemporary commentary, such as from Maurice Ravel, described "Fervaal" as strongly influenced by the operas of Richard Wagner [cite journal | url=http://ml.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/citation/84/4/668 |last=Huebner |first=Steven | title=Review: Wagner-Rezeption und französische Oper des Fin de siècle: Untersuchungen zu Vincent d'Indys Fervaal | journal=Music & Letters | volume=84 | issue=4 | pages=668–670 | date=2003 | accessdate=2007-08-03 | doi=10.1093/ml/84.4.668] , such as "Parsifal". [cite journal | url=http://mq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/citation/I/2/246 |last=Hill |first=Edward Burlingame | title=Vincent d'Indy: An Estimate | journal=The Musical Quarterly | volume=1 | issue=2 | pages=246–259 | date=1915 | accessdate=2007-08-03 | doi=10.1093/mq/I.2.246] Anya Suschitzky has published a lengthy analysis of the opera in the context of French nationalism and the influence of Wagner on French composers. [cite journal | url=http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/ncm.2001.25.2-3.237 | last=Suschitzky | first=Anya | title="Fervaal", "Parsifal", and French National Identity | journal=19th-Century Music | volume=25 | issue=2-3 | pages=237–265 | date=Fall-Spring 2001-02 | accessdate=2007-08-03 | doi=10.1525/ncm.2001.25.2-3.237] James Ross has examined "Fervaal" in the context of French politics of the time, in addition to French nationalism. [cite journal | url=http://ml.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/2/209 | last=Ross | first=James | title=D'Indy's "Fervaal": Reconstructing French Identity at the 'Fin de Siècle' | journal=Music and Letters | volume=84 | issue=2 | pages=209–240 | date=2003 | accessdate=2007-08-03 | doi=10.1093/ml/84.2.209] Manuela Schwartz has discussed in detail the connection between the story of "Axel" and the opera of "Fervaal". [cite journal | url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/gcmr/1998/00000017/00000003/art00005 | last=Schwartz | first=Manuela | title=ymbolic structures and elements in the opera "Fervaal" of Vincent d'Indy | journal=Contemporary Music Review, | volume=17 | issue=3 | pages=43–56 | date=1998 | accessdate=2007-08-05 | doi=10.1080/07494469800640191]

In the context of religious theme of paganism vs. Christianity in the work, D'Indy uses the old musical theme of "Pange, lingua" as a musical representation of the new religion (Christianity) supplanting the old (paganism). [Calvocoressi, M.D. (July 1, 1921). "The Dramatic Works of Vincent D'Indy. "Fervaal" (Continued)". "The Musical Times", 62, 941: 466-468.]

ynopsis

The opera is in a prologue and three acts.

In the prologue, Saracen bandits ambush the Gauls Fervaal and Arfagard, leaving them injured. Guilhen, daughter of the Saracen emir and a sorceress, saves them from death. Guilhen has immediately fallen in love with Fervaal, and offers to cure him. The prologue ends with Fervaal being carried to the palace of Guilhen.

In Act I, Arfagard explains to Fervaal the boy's history and upbringing. Fervaal is the son of a Celtic king, from the land of Cravann, and is destined as the last advocate of the old gods (the "Nuées). He is charged with the mission of saving his homeland from invasion and pillage, but must renounce love to fulfill his duty. Upon Guilhen's return, Fervaal returns her love. However, Arfagard calls for Fervaal to leave her and fulfill his mission. After he finally does take leave of Guilhen, she calls forth a mob of her fellow Saracens to revenge her abandonment by invading Cravann.

In Act II, Arfagard and Fervaal have returned to Cravann. They consult the goddess Kaito in the mountains, where she delivers this prophecy:

"Si le serment est violé, si la loi antique est brisée, si l'amour regne sur le monde, le cycle d'Esus est ferme.
Seule la mort, l'injurieuse mort, appellera la vie. La nouvelle vie naītra de la mort."

"If the oath is violated, if the ancient law is broken, if love reigns over the world, the cycle of Esus is closed.
Only death, injurious death, will call forth life. From death, new life will be born."

Arfagard does not understand the meaning of the prophecy. Fervaal understands that the violation refers to his own breaking of the oath renouncing love, and that the redemptive death will be his in the end. Arfagard introduces Fervaal to the Cravann chiefs, and they hail him as their new commander, or "Brenn". Fervaal anticipates that he will fail as leader and thus as his land's saviour, but he feels that he can achieve his redemptive death in battle as military commander. Fervaal tries to explain this situation to Arfagard, who becomes fearful for his people's future.

In Act III, the Cravann army has lost in battle, and Fervaal remains alive, in spite of seeking death in the conflict. He then asks Arfagard to kill him as a sacrifice to fulfill his duty. However, Guilhen appears, which reawaken's Fervaal's love and causes him to change his mind. Arfagard tries to kill Fervaal, but Fervaal instead cuts down Arfagard. Fervaal takes Guilhen away from the battlefield and they begin to ascend a mountain. Exhausted, Guilhen dies in Fervaal's arms. Fervaal laments the deaths of both Guilhen and Arfagard. He then hears the wordless chorus singing the "Pange, lingua" melody. Fervaal carries the body of Guilhen up the mountain, as he realizes that the reign of the "new God" is forthcoming. As he disappears from the scene, an "ideal sun" begins to shine.

Recording

As of 2007, there has not been a complete commercial recording of "Fervaal". There have been several recordings of the Prelude to "Fervaal", such as by the following artists:
* Brussels Royal Conservatory Orchestra; Desiré Defauw, conductor ["Discus" (pseudonym) (November 1, 1930), "Gramophone Notes". "The Musical Times", 71 (1053): 995-998.]
* San Francisco Symphony; Pierre Monteux, conductor
* Columbia Symphony Orchestra; Thomas Schippers, conductor

In 2004, the BBC broadcast as part of its "Composer of the Week" program a specially made recording of Act III of "Fervaal", with the following featured performers:
* David Kempster, bass/baritone; Christine Rice, mezzo-soprano; Stuart Kale, tenor; BBC National Chorus of Wales; BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Jean-Yves Ossonce, conductorThis BBC recording was not commercially released.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/cotw/pip/vh3ed/ BBC Radio "Composer of the Week" link to Vincent d'Indy program, with Act III information on "Fervaal" recording for broadcast]
* [http://www.sfsymphony.org/templates/history.asp?nodeid=154&callid=154 San Francisco Symphony link to recordings conducted by Pierre Monteux]
* [http://www.fdesouche.com/?p=2486 Fervaal, opéra identitaire Français]