Gwendoline

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Gwendoline is an opera in three acts by the French composer Emmanuel Chabrier with a libretto by Catulle Mendès. It was first performed at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels, Belgium on 10 April 1886. Gwendoline was Chabrier's attempt to write a serious opera in the style of Richard Wagner.

Contents

[edit] Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast
Conductor: Joseph Dupont
Gwendoline soprano Élisa-Eugénie Thuringer
Armel tenor Pierre-Émile Engel
Erick tenor Franklin
Aella mezzo-soprano Seuille
Harald baritone Charles Bérardi
A Dane bass

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Act One

The opera is set on the English coast during Anglo-Saxon times. Gwendoline, daughter of the Saxon chief Armel, has dreamt she was carried off by a Danish raider. That morning a real Danish raid takes place, led by Harald. Gwendoline begs him to spare her father and Harald falls in love with her. Armel agrees to give his daughter in marriage to Harald in return for peace.

[edit] Act Two

In reality, the marriage agreement was merely a ruse by Armel to enable him to kill his enemies by stealth. Gwendoline guesses the truth and warns Harald who is convinced when he hears the cries of his comrades in arms.

[edit] Act Three

Harald is overwhelmed by the Saxons and mortally wounded by Armel. Seeing her beloved dying, Gwendoline stabs herself to death.

[edit] Recordings

  • Gwendoline Adriana Kohútková, Didier Henry, Gérard Garino, Brno Czech National Philharmonic Male Choir, Slovak National Philharmonic Choir, Slovak National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jean-Paul Penin (L'Empreinte Digitale, 1999)

[edit] Sources