Miss Julie (Alwyn opera)

Miss Julie is an opera in two acts by William Alwyn with a libretto by the composer, based on the play Miss Julie by Swedish playwright August Strindberg.

Performance history

The opera was premiered as a BBC Radio 3 broadcast on 16 July 1977.[1] It received its staged premiere on 23 January 1979 at Kingsway Hall in London.[2] This production run was recorded by Lyrita (see section recordings). More recently, the opera was performed at the Norwich Triennial Festival in October 1997.

Roles

One addition that Alwyn made to the Strindberg original was the creation of the character of Ulrik, the gamekeeper.

Role Voice type Premiere cast[1]
BBC broadcast, 16 July 1977
(Conductor: )		 Premiere cast[2]
Kingsway Hall, 23 January 1979
(Conductor: Vilem Tausky)
Miss Julie soprano Jill Gomez Jill Gomez
Jean, manservant of the Count, Miss Julie's father baritone Benjamin Luxon Benjamin Luxon
Kristin, the cook mezzo-soprano Della Jones Della Jones
Ulrik, the gamekeeper tenor Anthony Rolfe Johnson John Mitchinson

Synopsis

The action is set on an estate of a Swedish count, during Midsommarafton (Midsummer's Eve). The count's daughter, Miss Julie, is attracted to her father's valet, Jean, in spite of the differences in their social stations. Jean is nominally involved romantically with the estate's cook, Kristin. The sexual tension between Miss Julie and Jean builds to the point where they consummate their relationship one evening. Miss Julie has dreams of her and Jean escaping from the estate to live their lives together, but the differences between their social classes are too much to overcome. At one point, Ulrik, the gamekeeper, shoots Miss Julie's dog. Jean eventually turns harshly on Miss Julie, to the point where he tells her to slit her wrists, as her mother had committed suicide prior. The opera ends as Miss Julie leaves the scene, presumably to take her own life.

Recording

In 1992 Lyrita re-released on CD the recording made during the Kingsway Hall premiere production run on 23, 24, 25 and 26 January 1979. Vilem Tausky conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra.[3][4][5][6][7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Almanacco 16 July 1977" (in Italian). AmadeusOnline. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Almanacco 23 January 1979" (in Italian). AmadeusOnline. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  3. ↑ Colin Clarke (April 2004). "Review - William Alwyn - Miss Julie". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  4. ↑ David Hurwitz. "Review - William Alwyn - Miss Julie". Classics Today. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  5. ↑ Miss Julie, opera in two acts (CD liner). William Alwyn. Lyrita. 1992. SRCD.2218.
  6. ↑ Rickards, Guy (June 1993). Tempo (New Ser.), 185: pp. 47-48.
  7. ↑ Raymond Ericson (23 September 1984). "Neglected British Operas Are Heard". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
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