The Last Savage
Encyclopedia
The Last Savage is an opera
in three acts by composer Gian Carlo Menotti
. Menotti wrote his own libretto
, originally in the Italian language
(L'ultimo selvaggio). The opera was translated into French (Le Dernier Sauvage) by Jean-Pierre Marty
for the work's world premiere performance at the Opéra-Comique
in Paris
on 21 October 1963. George Mead translated the work into English for the opera's American premiere at the Metropolitan Opera
the following year.
Following the premiere, The Last Savage was harshly ridiculed by French music critics, continuing a succession of critical failures for Menotti which began with The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore
(1956). The French daily newspaper Le Figaro
went so far as to describe the work as "A Misery".
in New York City on 23 January 1964. This presentation boasted a highly elaborate set by Beni Montresor
, star billing, and was performed in English using a translation by George Mead. Conductor Thomas Schippers
led the Met cast, which included George London as Abdul, Roberta Peters
as Kitty, Teresa Stratas
as Sardula, Nicolai Gedda
as Kodanda, Ezio Flagello
as Maharajah, Lili Chookasian
as Maharanee, and Morley Meredith as Scattergood. Though the quality of the singing was praised by critics, New York's response to the opera was negative.
Four months later, the work was first performed in the original Italian at La Fenice
in Venice
on 15 May 1964 with conductor Carlo Franci, John Reardon as Abdul, Helen Mané as Kitty, Maliponte as Sardula, Roberto Merolla as Kodanda, Angelo Nosotti as Scattergood, and Paolo Washington as the Marajah.
Italy's reception of the La Fenice production was lukewarm and the opera was not performed again for many years. Reactions from critics internationally commented on the opera's poor libretto. At that time avant-garde music was in vogue and critics felt Menotti's conservative style of composition was overly sentimental and trite; although a few of the arias and a septet in the work were generally praised. Several critics commented that the music failed to live up to the quality of earlier Menotti operas like The Saint of Bleecker Street
(1954) and The Consul
(1950). In response to this reaction to his opera, Menotti stated:
A revised version of the opera was given by the Hawaii Opera Theatre
in 1973 with John Reardon as Abdul (repeating the role he created in Italian at La Fenice), Joanna Bruno as Kitty, Gary Glaze as Kodanda, and David Clartworthy as Mr. Scattergood. Menotti directed. Critics seemed to like this version better. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin said it was "packed with solid, wonderful, memorable music" and that John Reardon's performance was "simply flawless."
The opera was revived in 1981 at the Spoleto Festival USA
in honor of the composer's 70th birthday. The production was led by conductor Christian Badea
and starred Suzanne Hong as Kitty.
It was presented as part of the 2011 festival season by the Santa Fe Opera
under conductor George Manahan directed by Ned Canty, with Anna Christy
as Kitty, Daniel Okulitch
as Abdul, Jennifer Zetlan
as Sardula, Sean Panikkar as Kodanda, Thomas Hammons as Maharajah, Jamie Barton as Maharanee, and Kevin Burdette
as Scattergood. Critical reception of the production was positive, with several critics calling for a re-examination of the piece.
Kitty, a young student of anthropology
at Vassar College
, arrives in India in search of the earth's "last savage" — the chosen topic for her senior thesis. She is accompained by her parents, an American millionaire and his wife, who are more interested in finding Kitty a husband than in their daughter's research. Kitty's parents attempt to entice Kitty into marrying the Marajah's son, the Crown Prince of Rajaputana, but she refuses to do so until she has found her savage. Her parents accordingly hire the peasant Abdul to pretend to be a savage for $100,000. Kitty is fooled by this ruse and accordingly captures Abdul. She plans to take Abdul back to Chicago where she intends to present him to the scientific community and put him on display in an exhibit at the New York Zoo.
On the flight back to New York, Kitty becomes quite attached to Abdul and decides to keep him for herself. In Chicago she attempts to civilize him without success and Abdul ends up ruining a cocktail party that Kitty hosts with several important guests in attendance. Abdul flees the ruined party and is not found by Kitty until several months later when she discovers him in a jungle cave. Kitty declares her love for Abdul and decides to move into the cave with him. The opera ends with the couple in each others arms while Kitty's father's servants deliver modern appliances such as a television and a refrigerator to the cave.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in three acts by composer Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, among about two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular...
. Menotti wrote his own libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
, originally in the Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
(L'ultimo selvaggio). The opera was translated into French (Le Dernier Sauvage) by Jean-Pierre Marty
Jean-Pierre Marty
Jean-Pierre Marty is a French pianist and conductor.Jean-Pierre Marty was first a pupil of Alfred Cortot, then of Julius Katchen. He started a piano career at the age of 13, first as accompanist to the great cellist Pierre Fournier a few months before appearing in Paris as soloist in three piano...
for the work's world premiere performance at the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 21 October 1963. George Mead translated the work into English for the opera's American premiere at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan 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...
the following year.
Following the premiere, The Last Savage was harshly ridiculed by French music critics, continuing a succession of critical failures for Menotti which began with The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore
The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore
The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore or, The Three Sundays of a Poet is a "madrigal fable" for chorus, ten dancers, and nine instruments with music and original libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti. Based on the 16th century Italian madrigal comedy genre, it consists of a prologue and 12 madrigals...
(1956). The French daily newspaper Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
went so far as to describe the work as "A Misery".
Performance history
Despite the response from the French public, Menotti hoped that the opera would get a warmer reception at its American premiere 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 23 January 1964. This presentation boasted a highly elaborate set by Beni Montresor
Beni Montresor
Beni Montresor was a versatile Italian artist, opera and film director, set designer, author and children's book illustrator. He won the Caldecott Medal in 1965 for May I Bring a Friend?...
, star billing, and was performed in English using a translation by George Mead. Conductor Thomas Schippers
Thomas Schippers
Thomas Schippers was an American conductor. He was highly-regarded for his work in opera.-Biography:...
led the Met cast, which included George London as Abdul, Roberta Peters
Roberta Peters
Roberta Peters is an American coloratura soprano.One of the most prominent American singers to achieve lasting fame and success in opera, Peters is noted for her 35-year association with the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York...
as Kitty, Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas, OC , is a retired Canadian operatic soprano. She is especially well-known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu.-Early life and career:...
as Sardula, Nicolai Gedda
Nicolai Gedda
Nicolai Gedda is a Swedish operatic tenor. Having made some two hundred recordings, Gedda is said to be the most widely recorded tenor in history...
as Kodanda, Ezio Flagello
Ezio Flagello
Ezio Flagello was an Italian-American bass, particularly associated with the Italian repertory. He sang at the Metropolitan Opera from 1957 to 1984.- Career :...
as Maharajah, Lili Chookasian
Lili Chookasian
Lili Chookasian is an American contralto who has appeared with many of the world's major symphony orchestras and opera houses. She began her career in the 1940s as a concert singer but did not draw wider acclaim until she began singing opera in her late thirties...
as Maharanee, and Morley Meredith as Scattergood. Though the quality of the singing was praised by critics, New York's response to the opera was negative.
Four months later, the work was first performed in the original Italian at La Fenice
La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of the most famous theatres in Europe, the site of many famous operatic premieres. Its name reflects its role in permitting an opera company to "rise from the ashes" despite losing the use of two theatres...
in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on 15 May 1964 with conductor Carlo Franci, John Reardon as Abdul, Helen Mané as Kitty, Maliponte as Sardula, Roberto Merolla as Kodanda, Angelo Nosotti as Scattergood, and Paolo Washington as the Marajah.
Italy's reception of the La Fenice production was lukewarm and the opera was not performed again for many years. Reactions from critics internationally commented on the opera's poor libretto. At that time avant-garde music was in vogue and critics felt Menotti's conservative style of composition was overly sentimental and trite; although a few of the arias and a septet in the work were generally praised. Several critics commented that the music failed to live up to the quality of earlier Menotti operas like The Saint of Bleecker Street
The Saint of Bleecker Street
The Saint of Bleecker Street is an opera in three acts by Gian Carlo Menotti to an original English libretto by the composer. It was first performed at The Broadway Theatre in New York City on December 27, 1954. David Poleri and Davis Cunningham alternated in the role of Michele, and Thomas...
(1954) and The Consul
The Consul
The Consul is an opera in three acts with music and libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti, his first full-length opera. Its first performance was on March 1, 1950, at the Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia with Patricia Neway as the lead heroine Magda Sorel, Gloria Lane as the secretary of the consulate,...
(1950). In response to this reaction to his opera, Menotti stated:
- "To say of a piece that it is harsh, dry, acid and unrelenting is to praise it. While to call it sweet and graceful is to damn it. For better or for worse, in The Last Savage I have dared to do away completely with fashionable dissonance, and in a modest way, I have endeavored to rediscover the nobility of gracefulness and the pleasure of sweetness."
A revised version of the opera was given by the Hawaii Opera Theatre
Hawaii Opera Theatre
The Hawaii Opera Theatre is an opera company located in Honolulu, Hawaii, which became active in 1961. The company typically performs three operas during February and March in Blaisdell Concert Hall...
in 1973 with John Reardon as Abdul (repeating the role he created in Italian at La Fenice), Joanna Bruno as Kitty, Gary Glaze as Kodanda, and David Clartworthy as Mr. Scattergood. Menotti directed. Critics seemed to like this version better. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin said it was "packed with solid, wonderful, memorable music" and that John Reardon's performance was "simply flawless."
The opera was revived in 1981 at the Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the world's major performing arts festivals. It was founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who sought to establish a counterpart to the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy...
in honor of the composer's 70th birthday. The production was led by conductor Christian Badea
Christian Badea
Christian Badea is a Romanian opera and symphonic conductor.A native of Bucharest, Romania, Badea's early training was as a classical violinist. He later studied conducting at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. He has performed as a conductor of both the opera and symphonic repertoires...
and starred Suzanne Hong as Kitty.
It was presented as part of the 2011 festival season by the Santa Fe Opera
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
under conductor George Manahan directed by Ned Canty, with Anna Christy
Anna Christy
Anna Christy is an America soprano opera singer. She studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and made her debut in 2000 at New York City Opera as Papagena....
as Kitty, Daniel Okulitch
Daniel Okulitch
Daniel Okulitch is a Canadian bass-baritone. He first came to attention on Broadway as Schaunard in Baz Luhrmann's production of La bohème in 2002/03 – a role he repeated when the production traveled to Los Angeles the following year, for which he received the Ovation Award for Best Ensemble...
as Abdul, Jennifer Zetlan
Jennifer Zetlan
Jennifer Zetlan is an American operatic soprano. Born in Delaware, she studied at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and the Juilliard School. In 2007 she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as one of the French actresses in Sergei Prokofiev's War and Peace...
as Sardula, Sean Panikkar as Kodanda, Thomas Hammons as Maharajah, Jamie Barton as Maharanee, and Kevin Burdette
Kevin Burdette
Kevin Burdette is a singer who has worked as a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Teatro Colón, New York City Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Boston Lyric Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, and the Spoleto Festival USA, as well as many regional opera companies including the...
as Scattergood. Critical reception of the production was positive, with several critics calling for a re-examination of the piece.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 21 October 1963 (Conductor:Serge Baudo Serge Baudo Serge Baudo is a French conductor, the son of the oboist Étienne Baudo. He is the nephew of the cellist Paul Tortelier.... ) |
|---|---|---|
| Abdul | 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... |
Gabriel Bacquier Gabriel Bacquier Gabriel Bacquier is a French operatic baritone. One of the leading baritones of the 20th century and particularly associated with the French and Italian repertories, he is considered a fine singing-actor equally at home in dramatic or comic roles.-Life and career:Gabriel Bacquier was born in... |
| Kitty | 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... |
Mady Mesplé Mady Mesplé Mady Mesplé is a French opera singer, the leading high coloratura soprano of her generation in France, sometimes heralded as the successor to Mado Robin.-Biography:... |
| Sardula | soprano | Adriana Maliponte Adriana Maliponte Adriana Maliponte is an Italian operatic soprano.Born Adriana Macchiaioli, she moved with her family to France a the age of 14. She studied first at the Mulhouse Conservatory and later in Como with Carmen Melis and made her stage debut at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan in 1958... |
| Prince Kodanda | 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... |
Michele Molese |
| Scattergood | bass | Xavier Depraz |
| The Marajah | bass Bass (voice type) A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C... |
Charles Clavensy |
Synopsis
- Time: the 1960s
- Place: Rajaputana, India and Chicago, USA
Kitty, a young student of anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, arrives in India in search of the earth's "last savage" — the chosen topic for her senior thesis. She is accompained by her parents, an American millionaire and his wife, who are more interested in finding Kitty a husband than in their daughter's research. Kitty's parents attempt to entice Kitty into marrying the Marajah's son, the Crown Prince of Rajaputana, but she refuses to do so until she has found her savage. Her parents accordingly hire the peasant Abdul to pretend to be a savage for $100,000. Kitty is fooled by this ruse and accordingly captures Abdul. She plans to take Abdul back to Chicago where she intends to present him to the scientific community and put him on display in an exhibit at the New York Zoo.
On the flight back to New York, Kitty becomes quite attached to Abdul and decides to keep him for herself. In Chicago she attempts to civilize him without success and Abdul ends up ruining a cocktail party that Kitty hosts with several important guests in attendance. Abdul flees the ruined party and is not found by Kitty until several months later when she discovers him in a jungle cave. Kitty declares her love for Abdul and decides to move into the cave with him. The opera ends with the couple in each others arms while Kitty's father's servants deliver modern appliances such as a television and a refrigerator to the cave.