| Frederick Delius |
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Operas
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Fennimore und Gerda is a German-language opera in 11 "pictures," with four interludes, by the English composer Frederick Delius. It is usually performed and recorded in English, as "Fennimore and Gerda," in a translation by Philip Heseltine. The German libretto, by the composer himself, is based on the novel Niels Lyhne by the Danish writer Jens Peter Jacobsen. In neither German nor English is the libretto highly regarded; rather, the work is considered an "orchestral opera," limited in its dramatic appeal but voluptuous and engaging in its instrumental texture. Delius began writing Fennimore und Gerda in 1908; he finished in 1910, but the premiere, intended for Cologne, was delayed by the First World War and did not take place until 21 October 1919, and then at the Opernhaus in Frankfurt. It was the composer's last opera.
Contents |
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 21 October 1919 (Conductor: Gustav Brecher) |
|---|---|---|
| Niels Lyhne | baritone | Robert von Scheidt |
| Erik | tenor | Erik Wirl |
| Fennimore | mezzo-soprano | Emma Holt |
| Gerda | soprano | Elisabeth Kandt |
| Consul | bass | Walter Schneider |
Two friends, the writer Niels Lyhne and the painter Erik Refstrup, are in love with Niels's cousin Fennimore. She chooses Erik but the marriage begins to break down as a result of the artist's drinking and Fennimore embarks on an affair with Niels. Erik is killed in an accident and, overwhelmed with guilt, Fennimore breaks off the affair. The rejected Niels spends years travelling before he settles down and marries his neighbour's daughter, Gerda.