Jocelyn (Op. 100) is a four-act opera by Benjamin Godard, set to a French libretto by Paul Armand Silvestre and the famous tenor Victor Capoul. Taken from the poem by Alphonse de Lamartine, the action takes place in Grenoble and the surrounding mountains during Corpus Christi at the close of the 18th century. The score bears a dedication "A mon ami Daniel Barton".[1]
This opera is remembered for Godard's most enduring composition,[2] the tender berceuse (lullaby) for tenor, "Oh! ne t'éveille pas encore" commonly known in English as Angels Guard Thee.
It received its première on February 25, 1888 at Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium with Pierre-Émile Engel creating the title role. A production with a new cast, including Capoul in the title role, opened in Paris at the Théâtre-Lyrique-National on October 13 of the same year.
Contents |
| Role |
Voice type | Premiere Cast, February 25, 1888 [3] (Conductor: Joseph Dupont) |
|---|---|---|
| Laurence | soprano | Rose Caron |
| Julie | soprano | Storrelle |
| Young mountain girl | mezzo-soprano | Angèle Legault |
| Jocelyn's mother | mezzo-soprano | L Van Besten |
| Jocelyn | tenor | Pierre-Émile Engel |
| Julie's fiancé | baritone | Rouyer[4] |
| The bishop | bass-baritone | Arthur Henri Seguin |
| Laurence's father | baritone | Jacques Isnardon |
| Old man | bass | Jules Vinche |
| Old shepherd | Jules Vinche[5] | |
| Gaoler | bass | Frankin[6] |
The aria "Oh! ne t'éveille pas encor" has been recorded by many tenors, including Capoul, John McCormack, Edmond Clément, Jussi Björling and Plácido Domingo, as well as by the cellist Pablo Casals.[7]