Amilie, or the Love Test
Encyclopedia
Amilie, or the Love Test is an opera
in three acts by the Irish
composer, William Michael Rooke
to a libretto by John Thomas Haines.
, on 2 December 1837. The music critic George Hogarth considered that the work displayed "genius, learning, taste, and a rich vein of melody, flowing, graceful and expressive", whilst the orchestral writing was "skillful and beautiful". The role of Amilie was played by the Scot
tish soprano
Jane Shireff (1811-1883). The Musical Review was not so complimentary, quoting the London correspondent of the New York Mirror
: although conceding that "the music [...] is of a superior description", he added that "the plot is almost unintelligible" and that "vocal talent is at a miserably low ebb."
The production's success however led to further performances elsewhere. Michael William Balfe
(who had studied with Rooke as a boy) sang the baritone role in a performance at the Theatre Royal, Dublin in 1838 , and the opera was performed in New York
at the National Theatre on 15th October in the same year, with Jane Shireff repeating the title role in her American debut and with the Scottish tenor John Wilson as Jose. Her success there led to a 20 month tour of the US (with Wilson as her manager). The second act was gven as part of a musical entertainment at the same theatre in 1839. The music historian Karen Alquist couples the American debut of Amilie with the contemporary performance there of Bellini
's La Sonnambula
, and suggests that "they taught New Yorkers a new musical style, enabling them to enjoy a broad new repertoire in which elaborate musical structures were no longer reduced to simple ballad forms but could be understood in their own terms".
The work's success gave rise to further performances in America, including a burlesque
version by the actor-manager William Mitchell at the Olympic Theatre, New York, in 1839, entitled Amy Lee, or Who Loves Best?
The existence of manuscript orchestral parts, copied in New York, with the stamp of a Melbourne
agent, in the National Library of Australia
suggests there must also have been antipodean performances.
Rooke's subsequent operas did not meet the success of Amilie: Henrique, or the Love Pilgrim was pulled after a few performances in London in 1839, (perhaps due to disagreements with the manager of Covent Garden, William Macready), and his subsequent works Cagliostro and The Valkyrie were never staged.
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 the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
composer, William Michael Rooke
William Michael Rooke
William Michael Rooke , was an Irish violinist and composer....
to a libretto by John Thomas Haines.
Background
Although written around 1818 in Dublin, the opera was not performed until almost twenty years later, at Covent Garden Theatre, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on 2 December 1837. The music critic George Hogarth considered that the work displayed "genius, learning, taste, and a rich vein of melody, flowing, graceful and expressive", whilst the orchestral writing was "skillful and beautiful". The role of Amilie was played by the Scot
Scot
A Scot is a member of an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland, derived from the Latin name of Irish raiders, the Scoti.Scot may also refer to:People with the given name Scot:* Scot Brantley , American football linebacker...
tish 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...
Jane Shireff (1811-1883). The Musical Review was not so complimentary, quoting the London correspondent of the New York Mirror
New York Mirror
The New-York Mirror was a weekly newspaper published in New York City from 1823 to 1842, and again as a daily newspaper renamed The Evening Mirror from 1844 to 1898.-History:...
: although conceding that "the music [...] is of a superior description", he added that "the plot is almost unintelligible" and that "vocal talent is at a miserably low ebb."
The production's success however led to further performances elsewhere. Michael William Balfe
Michael William Balfe
Michael William Balfe was an Irish composer, best-remembered for his opera The Bohemian Girl.After a short career as a violinist, Balfe pursued an operatic singing career, while he began to compose. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he composed 38 operas, almost 250 songs and other works...
(who had studied with Rooke as a boy) sang the baritone role in a performance at the Theatre Royal, Dublin in 1838 , and the opera was performed in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
at the National Theatre on 15th October in the same year, with Jane Shireff repeating the title role in her American debut and with the Scottish tenor John Wilson as Jose. Her success there led to a 20 month tour of the US (with Wilson as her manager). The second act was gven as part of a musical entertainment at the same theatre in 1839. The music historian Karen Alquist couples the American debut of Amilie with the contemporary performance there of Bellini
Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italian opera composer. His greatest works are I Capuleti ed i Montecchi , La sonnambula , Norma , Beatrice di Tenda , and I puritani...
's La Sonnambula
La sonnambula
La sonnambula is an opera semiseria in two acts, with music in the bel canto tradition by Vincenzo Bellini to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani, based on a scenario for a ballet-pantomime by Eugène Scribe and Jean-Pierre Aumer called La somnambule, ou L'arrivée d'un nouveau seigneur.The first...
, and suggests that "they taught New Yorkers a new musical style, enabling them to enjoy a broad new repertoire in which elaborate musical structures were no longer reduced to simple ballad forms but could be understood in their own terms".
The work's success gave rise to further performances in America, including a burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
version by the actor-manager William Mitchell at the Olympic Theatre, New York, in 1839, entitled Amy Lee, or Who Loves Best?
The existence of manuscript orchestral parts, copied in New York, with the stamp of a Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
agent, in the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
suggests there must also have been antipodean performances.
Rooke's subsequent operas did not meet the success of Amilie: Henrique, or the Love Pilgrim was pulled after a few performances in London in 1839, (perhaps due to disagreements with the manager of Covent Garden, William Macready), and his subsequent works Cagliostro and The Valkyrie were never staged.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere American Cast, 15th October 1838 (Conductor: Mr. Penson) |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Pesta | A. Andrews | |
| Jean Piednoir | Mr. Blakely | |
| Babet | Mrs. Cantor | |
| Hans Meyer | Mr. Duggan | |
| Brenner | Mr.Horncastle | |
| Lelia | Mrs. W. Penson | |
| Gervaise Grenadot | Mr. W.H. Williams | |
| Amilie | 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... |
Jane Shireff |
| Jose Spechbacher | Tenor | John Wilson |
| Chorus of gypsies apparently (see picture) | ||