The Light of the World (Sullivan)

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Sullivan in about 1870
Sullivan in about 1870

The Light of the World was an oratorio composed in 1873 by Arthur Sullivan. It was first performed at the Birmingham Festival on 27 August 1873 and was the composer's second oratorio, the first being The Prodigal Son (1869).

Present at the first performance was the Duke of Edinburgh, the son of Queen Victoria. The oratorio was dedicated to the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, who was to become the Duke's wife in 1874.[1] The oratorio was inspired by William Holman Hunt's popular 1853-54 painting The Light of the World. As Sullivan appeared on the platform to conduct his new work, he was met with a "hearty and unanimous greeting.... The last outgrowth of his genius leaves far behind all that preceded it", reported The Times.[2]

Sullivan's work tells the story of the whole life of Christ. He wrote the libretto himself and based it on events described in the New Testament.[3]

Sullivan took on a difficult task in retracing the ground covered by Handel's Messiah. While Charles Gounod described the work as a masterpiece, other critical assessments have not been kind. "Only rarely in the course of this ponderous two and three-quarter hour progress does the vital composer of 'The Tempest' and the 'Irish' Symphony surface."[4] Another reviewer found a middle ground: "The main weakness of The Light of the World [is] the lifeless music given to the baritone (Jesus) part.... Study of this score revealed... many fine choruses, brilliant solos, and beautiful pastoral passages. While not of a consistency or individuality of The Martyr of Antioch or The Golden Legend, The Light of the World has more than enough virtues to justify a professional revival."[5]

The Light of the World was widely performed throughout Great Britain and elsewhere during Sullivan's lifetime. Since then it has seldom been performed, and there is no professional recording of the oratorio.

Contents

[edit] Musical numbers

The Light of the World, the painting that inspired the oratorio
The Light of the World, the painting that inspired the oratorio
THE FIRST PART
  • No. 1 Prologue (Chorus) – There shall come forth a rod
Bethlehem
  • No. 2 Introduction and Recitative – There were shepherds
  • No. 3 Chorus of Angels – Glory to God
  • No. 4 Chorus of Shepherds – Let us now go even unto Bethlehem
  • No. 5 Solo (Bass) – Blessed art thou
  • No. 6 Air (Soprano) – My soul doth magnify the Lord
  • No. 7 Sullivan omitted this number
  • No. 8 Chorus of Shepherds – The whole earth is at rest
  • No. 9 Solo (Contralto) – Arise and take the young child
  • No. 10 Solo (Soprano) & Chorus – In Rama was there a voice heard
  • No. 11 Air (Tenor) – Refrain thy voice from weeping
  • No. 12 Solo (Contralto) – Arise and take the young child
  • No. 13 Chorus – I will pour my spirit
Nazareth — In the Synagogue
  • No. 14 Solo (Baritone) & Chorus – The spirit of the Lord
  • No. 15 Quintet – Doubtless thou art our Father
  • No. 16 Solo (Baritone) – Blessed are they that are persecuted
  • No. 17 Chorus – He maketh the sun to rise
Lazarus
  • No. 18 Duet (Tenor & Baritone) – Lord, behold he whom thou lovest
  • No. 19 Solo (Contralto) & Chorus – Weep ye not for the dead
  • No. 20 Scena (Soprano & Baritone) – Lord, if thou hadst been here
  • No. 21 Chorus – Behold how He loved him
  • No. 22 Solo (Baritone) – Said I not unto thee
  • No. 23 Chorus – The grave cannot praise thee
The Way to Jerusalem
  • No. 24 Solos – Perceive ye how
  • No. 25 Chorus of Children – Hosanna to the Son of David
  • No. 26 Air (Soprano) – Tell ye the daughter of Zion
  • No. 27 Chorus of Disciples – Blessed be the Kingdom
  • No. 28 Trio & Chorus – Hosanna to the Son of David
THE SECOND PART
Jerusalem
  • No. 29 Overture
  • No. 30 Solo (Baritone) – When the Son of Man
  • No. 31 Solos & Chorus – Is this not He whom they seek to kill
  • No. 32 Chorus of Women – The hour is come
  • No. 33 Solo (Baritone) – Daughters of Jerusalem
  • No. 34 Quartet (Unaccompanied) – Yea, though I walk through the valley
  • No. 35 Chorus – Men and brethren
At the Sepulchre
  • No. 36 Recitative (Soprano) – Where have they laid Him
  • No. 37 Aria (Soprano) – Lord, why hidest thy face?
  • No. 38 Recitative – Why weepest thou?
  • No. 39 Aria (Contralto) – The Lord is risen
  • No. 40 Chorus – The Lord is risen
  • No. 41 Solo (Tenor) – If ye be risen
  • No. 42 Chorus – Him hath God exalted

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Ainger, p.103
  2. ^ The Times, 28 August 1873
  3. ^ Shepherd, Marc. "The Light of the World" (2003) at A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography, accessed 11 June 2008
  4. ^ Webber, Christopher. Review of 2000 recording for MusicWeb
  5. ^ Silverman, Richard. "The Light of the World: breaking the the critical silence" (2001), accessed 11 June 2008

[edit] References

[edit] External links