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Mignon

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For other uses, seeMignon (disambiguation).
Mignon
OperabyAmbroise Thomas
Poster for the premiere, byJules Chéret
Librettist
LanguageFrench
Based onWilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre
by Goethe
Premiere
17 November 1866(1866-11-17)
Opéra-Comique,Paris

Mignonis an 1866opéra comique(oroperain its second version) in three acts byAmbroise Thomas.The original Frenchlibrettowas byJules BarbierandMichel Carré,based onGoethe's1795-96 novelWilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre.The Italian version was translated by Giuseppe Zaffira. The opera is mentioned inJames Joyce's "The Dead"(inDubliners) andWilla Cather'sThe Professor's House.[1]Thomas's goddaughterMignon Nevadawas named after the main character.[2]

Performance history

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The first performance was at theOpéra-Comiquein Paris on 17 November 1866. The piece proved popular: more than 100 performances took place by the following July, the 1,000th was given there on 13 May 1894, and the 1,500th on 25 May 1919.[3]

The opera was also adapted and translated into German for performance in Berlin withMadame Luccaas Mignon.[4]Lucca was well received, but the German critics were unhappy with the opera's alterations to the Goethe original, so Thomas composed a shorter finale with a tragic ending, in which Mignon falls dead in the arms of Wilhelm. This ending was an attempt to make the story of the opera somewhat more similar in tone to the tragic outcome of Goethe's. (The original version ofMignonfor the Opéra-Comique had to have a happy ending, since at that time in Paris tragic operas in French were exclusively reserved for theOpéra.) Unsurprisingly, this "Version allemande" still failed to satisfy the German critics and proved to be a futile endeavour. AsHenry Edward Krehbieldescribes it, the "Mignonof Carré and Barbier bears little more than an external resemblance to theMignonof Goethe, and to kill her is wanton cruelty. "[5]

Despite his success in Paris with the French version, Thomas was asked to revise the work for the first performance at theDrury Lane Theatrein London on 5 July 1870. This version was given in Italian with recitatives (instead of spoken dialogue). The role of Mignon, originally formezzo-soprano,was sung by asoprano(Christina Nilsson), and the role of Frédéric, originally atenor,was sung by acontralto(Zelia Trebelli-Bettini). A second verse was added to Lothario's aria in the first act ( "Fugitif et tremblant" in the French version), and in the second act, a rondo-gavotte for Frédéric ( "Me voici dans son boudoir" ) was devised using the music of theentr'actepreceding that act, to satisfy Mme Trebelli-Bettini, who was discomfited by having to take on a role originally written for buffo tenor. Apparently, thecoloratura sopranoElisa Volpini, who was to sing Philine, felt that her aria at the end of the second act ( "Je suis Titania" ) was insufficient, and another florid aria ( "Alerte, alerte, Philine!" ) was inserted after the second actentr'acteand before Laerte's 6/8 Allegretto ( "Rien ne vaut" ). The finale was also much shortened.[6]Philine's extra aria appears to have either never been orchestrated,[7]or the orchestration was lost or destroyed. (Most sources say that the aria was performed and not cut from the Drury Lane production, implying that Thomas must have orchestrated it.)[6]The aria is known from several piano-vocal scores and is included as an appendix, sung byRuth Weltingwithfluteandharpsichordaccompaniment, as part of the 1978 recording withMarilyn Horneas Mignon. The recording also includes a second appendix with the original, longer version of the finale.[7]

The United States premiere was given on 9 May 1871 at theFrench Opera Housein New Orleans.[8]This was followed by aMaurice Strakoschproduction in Italian at theNew York Academy of Musicon 22 November 1871 with Christine Nilsson as Mignon, Mlle. Léon Duval as Philine,Victor Capoulas Wilhelm, and Mlle.Ronconias Frédéric. The substantial success of the opera in London and New York has been attributed to the presence of Christine Nilsson in both productions.[9]Nilsson also performed the role at theMetropolitan Operain New York in 1883.[10]

The versions of the opera performed outside France, in particular, those in the United States and Italy, have been in Italian (later also in French), with Mignon as a soprano or mezzo-soprano, and Frédéric as a mezzo-soprano or contralto, and with the sung recitatives and the shortened finale. More recently, in 1986, the originalopéra comiqueversion with soprano Cynthia Clarey as Mignon was revived for a production at theWexford Festival Opera.[10]

Noted soprano interpreters of Mignon have includedEmma Albani(Covent Garden's first Mignon in 1874),Lucrezia Bori,andGeraldine Farrar;mezzo-sopranos have includedMarilyn Horne,Giulietta Simionato,Frederica von Stade,Risë Stevens,andEbe Stignani.Lily Ponswas famous for singing Philine.[10]

Roles

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Role Voice type Premiere cast,
17 November 1866
(Conductor:Théophile Tilmant) 		Second version cast,
5 July 1870
(Conductor:Luigi Arditi)[11]
Mignon mezzo-soprano(1866)
soprano(1870) 		Célestine Galli-Marié
Christina Nilsson
Philine,an actress coloratura soprano Marie Cabel Elisa Volpini[12]
Wilhelm Meister,a student tenor Léon Achard Alessandro Bettini[13]
Frédéric,Philine's admirer tenor (1866)
contralto(1870) 		Bernard Voisy
Zelia Trebelli-Bettini[14]
Laerte,an actor tenor Joseph-Antoine-Charles Couderc Edouard Gassier[15]
Lothario,a wandering minstrel bass Eugène Bataille Jean-Baptiste Faure[16]
Jarno,a gypsy bass François Bernard Signor Raguer[17]
Antonio,a castle servant bass Davoust Giovanni Volpini?[18]
Chorus:Townspeople, peasants, gypsies, guests, actors

Synopsis

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Célestine Galli-Mariécreated the role of Mignon at the première.
Connais-tu le pays
sung byAdelina Pattiin 1906
Problems playing this file? Seemedia help.
Time: End of the 18th century.
Place:GermanyandItaly.

Act 1

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In the courtyard of an inn in a small German town, the wandering minstrel Lothario sings and the Gypsies dance while the townspeople watch and drink. Jarno threatens Mignon with a stick when she refuses to dance, but Lothario and Wilhelm Meister come to her aid. She thanks them and divides her bouquet of wildflowers between them. Wilhelm and Laerte have a drink together. Philine and Laerte leave, after he gives her his flowers from Mignon. Mignon tells Wilhelm she was captured by Gypsies as a child. Wilhelm decides to purchase Mignon’s freedom. Lothario comes to say goodbye to Mignon. Lothario wants Mignon to travel with him, but she stays with Wilhelm. Frédéric lovingly follows Philine in, but she also wants Wilhelm. The acting troupe is about to set off for a baron's castle after receiving an invitation to perform there. Mignon is deeply in love with Wilhelm, but upset to see the flowers that she gave him in the hands of Philine.

Act 2

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Marie Cabelas Philine

In Philine’s room in the baron's castle, Philine is elated, living in the luxury and charming the baron. Laerte is heard outside, praising Philine. Wilhelm and Mignon enter. She pretends to sleep while Wilhelm and Philine sing. When the couple leave, Mignon tries on Philine’s costumes and make-up. She is jealous and exits. Frédéric enters. When Wilhelm returns for Mignon he is confronted by Frédéric. Mignon rushes in to break up their impending fight. Wilhelm decides that he cannot stay with Mignon and says goodbye to her. He leaves arm-in-arm with a jubilant Philine. Later, in the courtyard of the castle, Mignon is consumed by a jealous rage, when she hears Lothario playing the harp. He comforts the girl. Philine's portrayal of Titania inA Midsummer Night's Dreamis applauded in the conservatory. Mignon, in jealousy, shouts that she wishes the building would catch fire and runs out. Lothario hears her and moves toward the conservatory. After Mignon returns, Wilhelm receives her so warmly that Philine, now jealous, sends her to fetch the wildflowers in the conservatory. Wilhelm rushes to save Mignon from the fire that Lothario had set to please her, carrying her unconscious body out of the conservatory with the singed flowers still in her hand.

Act 3

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Mignon verlangende naar haar vaderland,byAry Scheffer,1836 (Dordrechts Museum)

Wilhelm has brought Mignon and Lothario to a castle in Italy which he considers buying. There an old man watches over Mignon and prays for her recovery. Antonio relates how the castle’s previous owner had gone mad after his wife had died of grief over the loss of their young daughter. Wilhelm decides to buy the castle for Mignon because it has so speeded her recovery. Mignon awakens and confesses to Wilhelm of her love for this strangely familiar place. He finally realizes that he loves her deeply and resists Philine’s attempts to win him back. Lothario re-enters and informs the couple that he is the owner of the castle and that returning here has restored his sanity. After reading a prayer found in a book in the house, Mignon realizes that she is his daughter Sperata. The three embrace happily.

Noted arias

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  • "Oui, je veux par le monde (Yes, I want the world)" (Wilhelm, atenor)
  • "Connais-tu le pays (Do you know the country)" (Mignon, amezzo-sopranoor asoprano)
  • "Adieu, Mignon! (Farewell, Mignon!)" (Wilhelm, a tenor)
  • "Je suis Titania (I am Titania)" (Philine, acoloratura soprano)
  • "Elle ne croyait pas (She did not believe)" (Wilhelm, a tenor)
  • "Me voici dans son boudoir (Here I am in her boudoir)" (Frédéric, a tenor or acontralto)

Recordings

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References

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Notes

  1. ^Cather, Willa (1925).The Professor's House.New York, A. A. Knopf. p. 92.
  2. ^James, Edward T.; James, Janet Wilson; Boyer, Paul S. (1971).Notable American Women, 1607–1950: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume 2.Harvard University Press. p.618.ISBN0-674-62734-2.Mignon Nevada Ambroise Thomas.
  3. ^Wolff S.Un demi-siecle d'Opéra-Comique 1900-1950.André Bonne, Paris, 1953.
  4. ^The Athenaeum(9 July 1870).
  5. ^Thomas (1901), pp. VII–VIII.
  6. ^abScherer, p. 8; Thomas (1901), pp. IX, 340–354;Dwight's Journal of Music(2 December 1871).
  7. ^abBlyth, p 742.
  8. ^Crichton, p. 951.
  9. ^Thomas (1901), p. VIII.
  10. ^abcForbes, Elizabeth. "Mignon" in Sadie,3:382–384.
  11. ^Rosenthal gives Luigi Arditi as the conductor, pp. 171, 808;The Musical World(19 March 1870)announced that the cast would be: Signor Bettini as Guglielmo; M. Faure as Lotario; Signor Gassier as Laerte, Signor Raguer as Giarno, Madame Trebelli-Bettini as Frederico, Madame Volpini as Filina, and Mdlle. Christine Nilsson as Mignon; Kobbé, p. 778, lists the cast as Nilsson, Volpini, Bettini, Faure;Dwight's Journal of Music(2 December 1871)lists the cast as Nilsson, Faure, Bettini, Volpini, and Trebelli-Bettini.
  12. ^The singer in the role of Philine is listed as: Elisa Volpini in Rosenthal, pp. 171, 847; Mme Volpini in Thomas (1901), pp. IX, 342; and Madame Volpini in Scherer, p. 8. One Madame Volpini was married to a tenor named Volpini (The Musical World,2 April 1864, p. 213).
  13. ^The singer in the role of Wilhelm is listed as Signor Bettini in Rosenthal, pp. 171 and 811, and as Bettini in several other sources as noted previously. The tenor Alessandro Bettini was a brother of the tenor Geremia Bettini, who was born in 1820 and died in 1865 (Weinstock gives Geremia's birth and death dates on p. 462;Dwight's Journal of Music,18 April 1868, p. 13reveals that Geremia and Alessandro were brothers and were both members ofMapleson's opera company at Her Majesty's Theatre in London in 1863;The Musical World,2 April 1864, p. 213mentions that Geremia Bettini and "Signor A. Bettini (husband to Madame Trebelli)" were both counted among the tenors in Mapleson's company in 1864). Although Casaglia 2005, "5 July 1870", lists Geremia [Jémérie] Bettini in the role of Guglielmo Meister, Geremia Bettini died before the date of the Drury Lane performance, so this must be an error.
  14. ^The singer in the role of Frédéric is listed as: Mme Trebelli-Bettini in Thomas (1901), p. 350; Madame Trebelli in Scherer, p. 8; and Zélia Trebelli in Casaglia 2005, "5 July 1870". Weinstock on p. 305 gives her full name as Zelia Trebelli-Bettini and mentions that she and Alessandro Bettini sang together in Rossini'sStabat Materon Good Friday 1863. Madame Trebelli-Bettini was married to the tenor Alessandro Bettini (The Musical World,2 April 1864, p. 213).
  15. ^The singer in the tenor role of Laerte is listed as Signor Gassier inThe Athenaeum(9 July 1870)and as "the late Signor Gassier" inThe Athenaeum(27 July 1874).Edouard Gassier (1820–1872) was a baritone (Forbes, Elizabeth. "Gassier, Edouard" in Sadie (1992)2:358), but the role of Laerte was much reduced in the Drury Lane version (The Athenaeum,9 July 1870) and could apparently also be sung by a baritone. Casaglia 2005, "5 July 1870", lists Geremia [Jémérie] Bettini as Laerte [assumed to be an error].
  16. ^The singer in the role of Lothario is listed as: Jean-Baptiste Faure in Rosenthal, pp. 171, 819; M. Faure in Thomas (1901), p. 340; Jean-Baptiste Fauré [sic] in Scherer, p. 8; and as Giovanni Volpini in Casaglia 2005, "5 July 1870", [assumed to be an error]. In addition, the baritoneCharles Santleyin hismemoirsmentions that he had hoped to play Lothario, but the part was given to Faure.
  17. ^The singer in the role of Jarno (Giarno) is listed as Signor Raquer in the cast announcement by the Italian Opera, Theatre Royal (inThe Musical World,19 March 1870).Although Casaglia 2005, "5 July 1870" assigns Jean-Baptiste Faure to the role of Giarno, Rosenthal, p. 171, Thomas (1901), p. 340, and other sources listed previously assign Faure to the role of Lothario. [Since the two characters, Lothario and Jarno, appear on stage together, the listing at Amadeus Almanac is assumed to be an error.]
  18. ^The singer in the role of Antonio is listed as bass Giovanni Volpini in Casaglia 2005, "5 July 1870". [Since this source fails to identify Elisa Volpini as Philine, this listing could possibly be due to the identification of the name "Volpini" with Giovanni Volpini rather than Elisa Volpini.]

Sources

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