Helvellyn
Helvellyn is an English opera in four acts, music by George Alexander Macfarren and libretto by John Oxenford, after Salomon Mosenthal's play Der Sonnwendhof. It was first performed in London, on November 3, 1864.
Principal characters
Structure of opera
- Illustrated Overture
Act I
- No. 1. Introduction: „What’s that?“ (Steenie, Chorus)
- No. 2. Recitative: „While supper’s getting ready“ (Steenie, Chorus)
- No. 2a. Song: „The sky with crimson“ (Steenie, Chorus)
- No. 3. Recit: „You all are here“ (Mabel, Martin, Chorus)
- No. 3a. Song: „A blessing on the harvest fall“ (Martin)
- No. 4. Recit: „A blessing“ (Mabel, Martin)
- No. 4a. Quartett with Chorus: „Who comes yonder“ (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Steenie, Chorus)
- No. 5. Recit & Song: „O Providence“ – „When my ample store“ (Mabel)
- No. 6. Finale: „Of all the trades“ (Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, Chorus)
- No. 6a. Quartett with Chorus: „Every thought“ (Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, Chorus)
Act II
- No. 7. Scena: „For nearly a month“ (Luke)
- No. 8. Recit: „Take this“ (Hannah, Luke, Chorus)
- No. 8a. Duet with Chorus: „Come here my pretty dear“ (Hannah, Luke, Chorus)
- No. 9. Part Song: „Harvest home“ (Chorus)
- No. 10. Recit: „Well done brave hearts“ (Hannah, Martin)
- No. 10a. Ballad: „Wear this flower and think of me“ (Martin)
- No. 11. Harvest Home Scene (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Steenie, Chorus)
- No. 11a. Song with Chorus: „Here’s a health to our worthy master“ (Luke)
- No. 12. Recit: „She’s gone“ (Mabel, Martin)
- No. 12a. Trio: „Zooks this is a glorious place“ (Mabel, Martin, Luke)
- No. 13. Scena: „She loves me“ (Martin)
- No. 13a. Romance: „She is my appointed fate“ (Mabel)
Act III
- No. 14. Chorus: „Here you may lead a tranquil life“ (Chorus)
- No. 15. Aria: „On my heart a weight“ (Hannah)
- No. 16. Recit: „Yes there she sits“ (Martin)
- No. 16a. Duet: „The generous Mabel“ (Hannah, Martin)
- No. 16b. Duettino: „The thought that so long“ (Hannah, Martin)
- No. 17. Recit: „Nay, Hannah“ (Martin)
- No. 17a. Romance: „Oh Hannah, Hannah, Hannah speak“ (Martin)
- No. 18. Finale: „How calm and bright“ (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, Chorus)
- No. 18a. Duet: „The brightest hope“ (Hannah, Mabel)
Act IV
- No. 19. Entr'acte
- No. 19a. Romance: „Wildly flies my spinning whell“ (Mabel)
- No. 20. Recit: „Mistress“ (Mabel, Martin)
- No. 20a. Duet: „To Helvellyn poor i came“ (Mabel, Martin)
- No. 21. Finale: „I have toil’d up the hill“ (All)
- No. 21a. Song: „I’ve watched him“ (Hannah)
Sources
- The Complete Dictionary of Opera & Operetta, James Anderson, Wings Books, 1993.
Helvellyn Media
- Red Tarn and Swirral Edge.JPG
The eastern side of Helvellyn: Looking down onto Red Tarn from Striding Edge, with the summit of Helvellyn and Swirral Edge beyond
- Helvellyn, from Wythburn Fells.JPG
The western side of Helvellyn: Helvellyn Screes and Whelp Side seen over Thirlmere from the Wythburn Fells
- Sketchmap helvellyn area.jpg
Sketch map of the topography of Helvellyn, with access routesClick to enlarge
- Striding Edge.jpg
Looking down onto Striding Edge and towards High Spying How
- Helvellyn Gill and Browncove Crags.JPG
Helvellyn Gill and Browncove Crags (with Raise and White Side beyond), seen from Fisher Crag above Thirlmere
- Helvellyn summit.JPG
The top of Helvellyn, looking north-west from the summit cairn
- Wordsworth on Helvellyn by Benjamin Robert Haydon.jpg
Wordsworth on Helvellyn (1842) by Benjamin Robert Haydon
- Aeroplane landing commemoration on Helvellyn.JPG
Monument on Helvellyn commemorating the first aeroplane landing there
- 39 Dryas octopetala (2661256260).jpg
Mountain avens (Dryas octopetala) an alpine species which survives on Helvellyn
- Helvellyn Tuff Formation.JPG
Pieces of lapilli tuff from the Helvellyn Tuff Formation, found on Catstye Cam, showing dark-coloured, flattened lapilli in the rocks