Delius' "A Village Romeo & Juliet"

[Mirror Image]

Delius: A Village Romeo & Juliet



Delius, Frederick
A Village Romeo and Juliet (1900-01)
(Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe)
Duration: 110 minutes
Lyric drama in six scenes

Libretto by the composer, after Gottfried Keller's 'Die Leute von Seldwyla' (G,E)

Scoring
Major roles: S,T,3Bar; minor roles: 5S,3A,3T,5Bar,2B; chorus 3(III=picc).3.corA.3.bcl.3.dbn-6.3.3.1-timp.perc:tam-t/bells/cyms/ tgl/xyl/glsp-2harp-strings On-stage: 6hn.2crt.2trbn-perc:SD/steel plates/church bells-organ-vln.
Abbreviations (PDF).

World Premiere
2/21/1907
Komische Oper (an der Weidendammer Brücke), Berlin
Conductor: Fritz Cassirer
Company: Komische Oper Berlin

Roles

MANZ, a rich farmer   Baritone
MARTI, another farmer   Baritone
SALI, son of Manz, as a child   Soprano
SALI, son of Manz, as a man   Tenor
VRELI, daughter of Marti   Soprano
THE DARK FIDDLER, rightful heir to the wood   Baritone
TWO PEASANTS   Baritone
GINGERBREAD WOMAN   Soprano
THREE WOMEN   Soprano//Mezzo-Soprano
WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE WOMAN   Soprano
CHEAP JEWELLERY WOMAN   Mezzo-Soprano
SHOWMAN   Tenor
MERRY-GO-ROUND MAN   Baritone
THE SLIM GIRL   Soprano
THE WILD GIRL   Mezzo-Soprano
THE POOR HORN-PLAYER   Tenor
THE HUNCHBACK BASS FIDDLER   Bass

Time and Place
Seldwyla, Switzerland, mid-19th century

Synopsis

Sali and Vrenchen (Vreli), son and daughter respectively of the farmers Manz and Marti, play together one September morning on a wild plot of land. The mysterious Dark Fiddler – rightful owner of this disputed piece, but illegitimate, and therefore without legal rights – appears and warns the children that it must not be tilled. Manz and Marti argue over the land and end their children's relationship. Six years later, at Marti's now dilapidated house, Sali and Vrenchen have arranged to meet: a lawsuit over the land has ruined both farmers. Sali persuades Vrenchen to meet him on the wild land, where the Dark Fiddler appears once more and invites them to join him; in any case, he says, they will meet again. Marti comes upon them and drags Vrenchen away. Sali tries to prevent him and knocks him down. Marti loses his mind, and is put away in an asylum. Sali returns to see Vrenchen at her house, which is to be sold. They declare their love and decide to run off together. Amidst the bustle of a local fair they buy rings. Sali mentions a rundown inn – the Paradise Garden – where they can dance all night, and they set off. They find the Dark Fiddler and some vagabonds drinking at a table. He greets them and suggests they follow him into the mountains. Instead they decide to die together. They climb aboard a hay barge and Sali removes the plug from the bottom of the boat as it moves off.

Moods
Poetic, Romantic, Tragic

Subjects
Ethics, History, Magic/Mystery, Relationships, Literary

Recommended Recording

Robert Tear/Elizabeth Harwood/John Shirley-Quirk/Benjamin Luxon/Noel Mangin/John Alldis Choir/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Meredith Davies
EMI 575785-2 (2 CDs)



[All information taken from Boosey & Hawkes]

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For me, one of the most incredible pieces of music ever written by anyone. Opera or not, it's magnificent! I usually don't prefer this genre, but there's something about this work that pulls me right in and doesn't let go. What do you guys think? And don't turn this into a Delius-bashing session, because, quite frankly, all of us Delius fans are tired of hearing it. The man WAS a genius, but also a true visionary and an innovative composer.

[Mirror Image]

No opera fans like A Village Romeo & Juliet? I mean really? Those that haven't heard it yet put away all of your preconceptions about Delius and listen to the music on its' own terms.

[Superhorn]

   I've never been a Delius fan. His music is certainly pretty but  I've always found it  cloyingly sentimental and monotonously languorous in mood .  A Village Romeo& Juliet is  typical  of this.  It's pretty but dramatically inert .  Sorry if I irritated any Delius fans .

[Sammy]

   I've never been a Delius fan. His music is certainly pretty but  I've always found it  cloyingly sentimental and monotonously languorous in mood .  A Village Romeo& Juliet is  typical  of this.  It's pretty but dramatically inert .  Sorry if I irritated any Delius fans .

No reason to be sorry.  The man asked what you thought of the opera, and you provided your response.  I suppose I think better of it than you do, but it's far from being a compelling composition.

[Mirror Image]

Personally, I find A Village Romeo & Juliet to be one of the most magnificent operas ever written period. I'm not an 'opera buff' by any stretch of the phrase. I do like Wagner a lot, but find I can only take his monstrous operas in small doses at a time. Delius' dramas, and, yes, there's plenty of drama in his operas, aren't too long and they're not too short. There's just so much incredible music to found A Village Romeo & Juliet. I also find this to be a very compelling composition as so much of Delius' larger scale works are. I'm always surprised by what I'm hearing and what happens next. Absolutely incredible composer in every sense of the word. People can disagree all they want to but there are plenty of people who love this music. If you aren't receptive to the music, then you'll never get it. If you listen with preconceived notions, then you're only hurting yourself, but I happily accept that the music isn't for everyone. Gives me even more reason to continue to sing praises for the music.

[ibanezmonster]

The first time I heard an excerpt from this I was blown away, but since then I've listened to it a few times and had no reaction. Listening to the full opera would be a good idea sometime.   

[Mirror Image]

The first time I heard an excerpt from this I was blown away, but since then I've listened to it a few times and had no reaction. Listening to the full opera would be a good idea sometime. 

Yes, I do suggest listening to the full opera. There's so much happening in this work. The music is so mesmerizing and enchanting. So much color and contrasts, but people have to actually listen to the music and not listen superficially. There is a lot happening in Delius' music, but if you're not available to receive the music and let it just completely wash over you, then you'll never enjoy it. Always listen to this music on its' own terms.

But like I have always said, life's too short to listen to music that you don't enjoy, but do give this music a chance, Greg.