Savitri (opera)

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Sāvitri is a chamber opera by Gustav Holst. The libretto, by Holst himself, is based on an episode from the Mahābharata. The opera was first given in an amateur performance at Wellington Hall, London on 5 December 1916. There are three commercial recordings of the opera, conducted by Imogen Holst (the composer's daughter, 1965), Richard Hickox (1983) and Glen Cortese (1998).

[edit] Synopsis

Sāvitri (soprano), wife of the woodman Satyavān (tenor), hears the voice of Death (bass) calling to her. He has come to claim her husband. Satyavān arrives to find his wife in distress, but assures Sāvitri that her fears are but Māyā (illusion): "All is unreal, all is Māyā." Even so, at the arrival of Death, all strength leaves him and he falls to the ground. Sāvitri, now alone and desolate, welcomes Death. The latter, moved to compassion by her greeting, offers her a boon of anything but the return of Satyavān. Sāvitri asks for life in all its fullness. After Death grants her request, she informs him that life is impossible without Satyavān. Death, defeated, leaves her. Satyavān awakens. Even Death is Māyā.