Peter Ibbetson (opera)
Encyclopedia
Note: This article is about the opera. For the 1935 film of the same name, see Peter Ibbetson
.
Peter Ibbetson is an opera in three acts by American composer Deems Taylor
from a libretto by Constance Collier
and Deems Taylor
based on the 1891 novel by George du Maurier
. Taylor's music is attractive, often dramatically apposite, and vocally grateful. Certain passages in Peter Ibbetson are effective and moving.
in New York City on February 7, 1931 and appeared in four seasons for a total of 22 performances (in the house and on tour) until 1935 and the retirement of the two singers who created the starring roles, Lucrezia Bori
and Edward Johnson
. Peter Ibbetson opened the 1933-34 season and was broadcast twice, in 1932 when the operas were still being broadcast only in part, and in 1934. The latter broadcast has been preserved and was issued, in excerpted form, on the "Edward J Smith Golden Age of Opera" LP label and, subsequently, complete on the same producer's UORC label.
On June 29, 1960 the Empire State Music Festival presented a performance of Peter Ibbetson which was broadcast. Licia Albanese
, who coached the part with its creator, Lucrezia Bori, sang the part of Mary. The opera was recently revived in concert form by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra with Lauren Flanigan
as Mary. An excerpt from the Albanese performance is included on an IRCC disc.
A 1999 recording is also available from Naxos Records
(2009).
The oily and vain Colonel Ibbetson is trying to flirt with Mrs. Deane, and in an aria insists on reciting an "original" poem. Peter joins the party late and brings in the poem, which is actually by Alfred de Musset
, exposing his uncle as a fake. The Colonel curses Peter, and there is a tense moment, but the party resumes as Peter and Mrs. Deane become friends. As Peter recounts his melancholy circumstances, a longing theme,which will return many times in the course of the opera, accomanies the words "only you..." Peter tells Mrs. Deane of his childhood friend Mimsey, "toujours mal a la tete" and of her talent called "dreaming true", whereby one could go anywhere in place or time.
The Colonel enters as Peter leaves and tells Mrs. Deane that Peter is actually his son, as he boasts of his affair with Peter's mother. Mrs. Deane is horrified. Taylor used a leitmotiv-type technique, with backwards and forwards references that keep the characters in place. Strong emotions are captured by a rich lyric flow, and inventive orchestration.
Mary, The Duchess of Towers,(actually the long-lost Mimsy) enters. During Mary's aria she and Peter seem to recognize each other.
Peter is visiting his boyhood home and meets the aged and senile Major Duquesnois who does not remember him or Mimsy. The solo grows in excitement as the old Major seems to recall, but it drops off as his mind fails. The Duchess of Towers arrives, also visiting. Peter sees her and, in the first "Dream Scene", he and Mary visit the garden of their youth. Peter then sees the Colonel forcing himself on Peter's mother, and tries to break it up, but it is only a dream. When he awakens, Peter meets Mary and a recognition scene follows. When Peter says that he was once a little French boy whose name was Gogo, Mary repeats his name tenderly, and they recognize each other. Peter relates his dream and, of course, Mary knows about it. Peter longs for her but she tells him they will never meet again.
Mrs. Deane has come to see the Colonel to ask him to leave her alone. Mrs. Deane's mother shows Peter the letter revealing the truth, that Peter is in fact the Colonel's son. Peter insists upon confronting the Colonel alone, and in the heated discussion which follows, accidentally kills him.
Scene 2
It is the morning of Peter's execution. He wants to die, but there is a message from Mary, who has secured a commutation to life in prison. Thus, he can "dream true" and be with her every night. Peter dreams, and there is a long duet with Mary.
Scene 3: 30 years later
Mrs. Deane has come to visit the dying Peter with the news that Mary is dead. Peter knows it: she did not come to him in the dream the previous night. As Peter dies, Mary appears, and in a romantic ending, they go off to an eternal life together
Peter Ibbetson
Peter Ibbetson is an American black-and-white drama film released in 1935 and directed by Henry Hathaway.The picture is based on a novel by George du Maurier, first published in 1891. In 1917, du Maurier's story was adapted into a very successful Broadway play starring John Barrymore, Lionel...
.
Peter Ibbetson is an opera in three acts by American composer Deems Taylor
Deems Taylor
Joseph Deems Taylor was a U.S. composer, music critic, and promoter of classical music.-Career:Taylor initially planned to become an architect; however, despite minimal musical training he soon took to music composition. The result was a series of works for orchestra and/or voices...
from a libretto by Constance Collier
Constance Collier
Constance Collier was an English film actress and acting coach.-Life and career:Born Laura Constance Hardie, in Windsor, Berkshire, Collier made her stage debut at the age of 3, when she played Fairy Peasblossom in A Midsummer's Night Dream...
and Deems Taylor
Deems Taylor
Joseph Deems Taylor was a U.S. composer, music critic, and promoter of classical music.-Career:Taylor initially planned to become an architect; however, despite minimal musical training he soon took to music composition. The result was a series of works for orchestra and/or voices...
based on the 1891 novel by George du Maurier
George du Maurier
George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier was a French-born British cartoonist and author, known for his cartoons in Punch and also for his novel Trilby. He was the father of actor Gerald du Maurier and grandfather of the writers Angela du Maurier and Dame Daphne du Maurier...
. Taylor's music is attractive, often dramatically apposite, and vocally grateful. Certain passages in Peter Ibbetson are effective and moving.
Performance history
Peter Ibbetson was first performed at the Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York City on February 7, 1931 and appeared in four seasons for a total of 22 performances (in the house and on tour) until 1935 and the retirement of the two singers who created the starring roles, Lucrezia Bori
Lucrezia Bori
Lucrezia Bori was a Spanish operatic singer, a lyric soprano.-Biography:Lucrezia Bori was born in Valencia, Spain. Her real name was Lucrecia Borja y González de Riancho and her family were reputed to be descended from the Borgias.Her voice had a unique timbre and transparent quality unlike any...
and Edward Johnson
Edward Johnson (tenor)
Edward Patrick Johnson CBE was a Canadian operatic tenor who was billed outside North America as Edoardo Di Giovanni, and became director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.- Early life :...
. Peter Ibbetson opened the 1933-34 season and was broadcast twice, in 1932 when the operas were still being broadcast only in part, and in 1934. The latter broadcast has been preserved and was issued, in excerpted form, on the "Edward J Smith Golden Age of Opera" LP label and, subsequently, complete on the same producer's UORC label.
On June 29, 1960 the Empire State Music Festival presented a performance of Peter Ibbetson which was broadcast. Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese is an Italian-born American operatic soprano. Noted especially for her portrayals of the lyric heroines of Verdi and Puccini, Albanese was a leading artist with the Metropolitan Opera of New York from 1940 to 1966...
, who coached the part with its creator, Lucrezia Bori, sang the part of Mary. The opera was recently revived in concert form by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra with Lauren Flanigan
Lauren Flanigan
Lauren Flanigan is an American operatic soprano who has had an active international career since the 1980s. She has enjoyed a particularly fruitful partnership with the New York City Opera, appearing with the company almost every year since 1990...
as Mary. An excerpt from the Albanese performance is included on an IRCC disc.
A 1999 recording is also available from Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
(2009).
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, February 7, 1931 (Conductor: Tullio Serafin Tullio Serafin -Biography:Tullio Serafin was a leading Italian opera conductor with a long career and a very broad repertoire who revived many 19th century bel canto operas by Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti to become staples of 20th century repertoire... ) |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Ibbetson | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Edward Johnson Edward Johnson (tenor) Edward Patrick Johnson CBE was a Canadian operatic tenor who was billed outside North America as Edoardo Di Giovanni, and became director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.- Early life :... |
| Colonel Ibbetson, his uncle | baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or... |
Lawrence Tibbett Lawrence Tibbett Lawrence Mervil Tibbett was a great American opera singer and recording artist who also performed as a film actor and radio personality. A baritone, he sang with the New York Metropolitan Opera company more than 600 times from 1923 to 1950... |
| Mary, Duchess of Towers | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Lucrezia Bori Lucrezia Bori Lucrezia Bori was a Spanish operatic singer, a lyric soprano.-Biography:Lucrezia Bori was born in Valencia, Spain. Her real name was Lucrecia Borja y González de Riancho and her family were reputed to be descended from the Borgias.Her voice had a unique timbre and transparent quality unlike any... |
| Mrs. Deane | mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... |
Marion Telva |
| Mrs. Glyn, her mother | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
Ina Bourskaya |
| Achille, proprietor of "La tête noire" | tenor | Angelo Badà Angelo Badà Angelo Badà was an Italian operatic tenor. He had a lengthy association with the Metropolitan Opera of New York City where he gave a total of 2,170 performance in 94 different operas in over 100 different roles from 1908 through 1938. Only two singers in the Met's history have made more... |
| Major Duquesnois | baritone | Léon Rothier Léon Rothier Léon Rothier was a French musician, predominantly an opera singer in the bass range, who reached the peak of his powers in the early 20th century at New York's Metropolitan Opera.... |
| The Chaplain of Newgate Prison | baritone | Louis D'Angelo |
| Charlie Plunkett | tenor | Giordano Paltrinieri |
| Guy Mainwaring | baritone | Millo Picco |
| Footman | tenor | Marek Windheim |
| Diana Vivash | soprano | Phradie Wells |
| Marie | soprano | Santa Biondo Santa Biondo Santa Biondo was an American opera star whose career spanned from 1927 to 1938.-Early life and career:... |
| Madge Plunkett | mezzo-soprano | Grace Divine |
| Victorine | soprano | Philine Falco |
| A Sister of Charity | mezzo-soprano | Minnie Egener Minnie Egener Minnie Egener was an American operatic mezzo-soprano. She made her professional opera debut in 1904 at the Metropolitan Opera as one of the flower maidens in Richard Wagner's Parsifal. In 1906 she moved to Italy and spent the next several years performing in operas with various theaters throughout... |
| Manservant | baritone | Alfredo Gandolfi |
Act 1
A party at an English country house, 1855The oily and vain Colonel Ibbetson is trying to flirt with Mrs. Deane, and in an aria insists on reciting an "original" poem. Peter joins the party late and brings in the poem, which is actually by Alfred de Musset
Alfred de Musset
Alfred Louis Charles de Musset-Pathay was a French dramatist, poet, and novelist.Along with his poetry, he is known for writing La Confession d'un enfant du siècle from 1836.-Biography:Musset was born on 11 December 1810 in Paris...
, exposing his uncle as a fake. The Colonel curses Peter, and there is a tense moment, but the party resumes as Peter and Mrs. Deane become friends. As Peter recounts his melancholy circumstances, a longing theme,which will return many times in the course of the opera, accomanies the words "only you..." Peter tells Mrs. Deane of his childhood friend Mimsey, "toujours mal a la tete" and of her talent called "dreaming true", whereby one could go anywhere in place or time.
The Colonel enters as Peter leaves and tells Mrs. Deane that Peter is actually his son, as he boasts of his affair with Peter's mother. Mrs. Deane is horrified. Taylor used a leitmotiv-type technique, with backwards and forwards references that keep the characters in place. Strong emotions are captured by a rich lyric flow, and inventive orchestration.
Mary, The Duchess of Towers,(actually the long-lost Mimsy) enters. During Mary's aria she and Peter seem to recognize each other.
Act 2
The Paris suburb of Passy, two years laterPeter is visiting his boyhood home and meets the aged and senile Major Duquesnois who does not remember him or Mimsy. The solo grows in excitement as the old Major seems to recall, but it drops off as his mind fails. The Duchess of Towers arrives, also visiting. Peter sees her and, in the first "Dream Scene", he and Mary visit the garden of their youth. Peter then sees the Colonel forcing himself on Peter's mother, and tries to break it up, but it is only a dream. When he awakens, Peter meets Mary and a recognition scene follows. When Peter says that he was once a little French boy whose name was Gogo, Mary repeats his name tenderly, and they recognize each other. Peter relates his dream and, of course, Mary knows about it. Peter longs for her but she tells him they will never meet again.
Act 3
Scene 1Mrs. Deane has come to see the Colonel to ask him to leave her alone. Mrs. Deane's mother shows Peter the letter revealing the truth, that Peter is in fact the Colonel's son. Peter insists upon confronting the Colonel alone, and in the heated discussion which follows, accidentally kills him.
Scene 2
It is the morning of Peter's execution. He wants to die, but there is a message from Mary, who has secured a commutation to life in prison. Thus, he can "dream true" and be with her every night. Peter dreams, and there is a long duet with Mary.
Scene 3: 30 years later
Mrs. Deane has come to visit the dying Peter with the news that Mary is dead. Peter knows it: she did not come to him in the dream the previous night. As Peter dies, Mary appears, and in a romantic ending, they go off to an eternal life together
Recordings
- Anthony Dean GriffeyAnthony Dean GriffeyAnthony Dean Griffey is an American operatic tenor. With his lyric tenor voice, Griffey has become a regular presence on the stages of opera houses around the world....
, Lauren Flanigan, Richard Zeller; Seattle Symphony Chorale and Seattle Symphony; Gerald Schwarz. Naxos, 1999/2009.