Jocelyn (opera)
Encyclopedia
Jocelyn is a four-act opera
by Benjamin Godard
, set to a French libretto
by Paul Armand Silvestre
and the famous tenor
Victor Capoul
. Taken from the poem by Alphonse de Lamartine
, the action takes place in Grenoble
and the surrounding mountains during Corpus Christi
at the close of the 18th century. The score bears a dedication "A mon ami Daniel Barton".
This opera is remembered for Godard's most enduring composition, the tender berceuse
(lullaby) for tenor
, "Oh! ne t'éveille pas encore" commonly known in English as Angels Guard Thee.
It received its première on February 25, 1888 at Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels
, Belgium
with Pierre-Émile Engel
creating the title role. A production with a new cast, including Capoul in the title role, opened in Paris at the Théâtre-Lyrique-National
on October 13 of the same year.
, Jussi Björling
and Plácido Domingo
, as well as by the cellist Pablo Casals
.
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...
by Benjamin Godard
Benjamin Godard
Benjamin Louis Paul Godard was a French violinist and Romantic composer.-Biography:Born in Paris, Godard was a student of Henri Vieuxtemps. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris in 1863 where he studied under Vieuxtemps and Napoléon Henri Reber and accompanied Vieuxtemps twice to Germany...
, set to a French 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...
by Paul Armand Silvestre
Paul Armand Silvestre
Paul-Armand Silvestre , French poet and conteur, was born in Paris.He studied at the École polytechnique with the intention of entering the army, but in 1870 he entered the department of finance. He had a successful official career, was decorated with the Legion of Honour in 1886, and in 1892 was...
and the famous 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...
Victor Capoul
Victor Capoul
Joseph Victor Amédée Capoul, born in Toulouse on 27 February 1839 and died in Pujaudran on 18 February 1924, was a French operatic tenor with a lyric voice and a graceful singing style.-Career:Victor Capoul began his studies in Toulouse...
. Taken from the poem by Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic.-Career:...
, the action takes place in Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
and the surrounding mountains during Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi (feast)
Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
at the close of the 18th century. The score bears a dedication "A mon ami Daniel Barton".
This opera is remembered for Godard's most enduring composition, the tender berceuse
Berceuse
A berceuse is "a musical composition usually in 6/8 time that resembles a lullaby". Otherwise it is typically in triple meter. Tonally most berceuses are simple, often merely alternating tonic and dominant harmonies; since the intended effect is to put a baby to sleep, wild chromaticism would be...
(lullaby) for 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...
, "Oh! ne t'éveille pas encore" commonly known in English as Angels Guard Thee.
It received its première on February 25, 1888 at Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
with Pierre-Émile Engel
Pierre-Émile Engel
Pierre-Émile Engel was a French operatic tenor active on the stages of Brussels, Paris, Monte-Carlo and other European cities where he sang leading roles in several world premieres.-Life and career:...
creating the title role. A production with a new cast, including Capoul in the title role, opened in Paris at the Théâtre-Lyrique-National
Théâtre de la Ville
The Théâtre de la Ville is one of the two theatres built in the 19th century by Baron Haussmann at Place du Châtelet, Paris; the other being the Théâtre du Châtelet...
on October 13 of the same year.
Roles
| Voice type | Premiere Cast, February 25, 1888 (Conductor: Joseph Dupont) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Laurence | 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... |
Rose Caron Rose Caron Rose Caron was a French operatic soprano.Rose Caron was born at Monnerville . She studied at the Paris Conservatoire but was not taken on at the Paris Opera; her husband, an accompanist, encouraged her to take lessons from Marie Sasse who helped her to get engagements at the opera in Brussels... |
| Julie | soprano | Storrelle |
| Young mountain girl | 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... |
Angèle Legault |
| Jocelyn's mother | mezzo-soprano | L Van Besten |
| Jocelyn | 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... |
Pierre-Émile Engel Pierre-Émile Engel Pierre-Émile Engel was a French operatic tenor active on the stages of Brussels, Paris, Monte-Carlo and other European cities where he sang leading roles in several world premieres.-Life and career:... |
| Julie's fiancé | 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... |
Rouyer |
| The bishop | bass-baritone Bass-baritone A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende... |
Arthur Henri Seguin |
| Laurence's father | baritone | Jacques Isnardon Jacques Isnardon Jacques Isnardon was a French bass-baritone, writer and voice teacher.After winning a competition at the Paris Conservatory, he made his debut as Baxter in Émile Paladilhe's Diane at the Opéra-Comique in 1885 , before moving to Brussels and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, whose history he... |
| Old man | bass | Jules Vinche |
| Old shepherd | Jules Vinche | |
| Gaoler | bass | Frankin |
Recordings
The aria "Oh! ne t'éveille pas encor" has been recorded by many tenors, including Capoul, John McCormack, Edmond ClémentEdmond Clément
Edmond Clément was a French lyric tenor who earned an international reputation due to the polished artistry of his singing....
, Jussi Björling
Jussi Björling
Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling was a Swedish tenor. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th Century, Björling appeared frequently at the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as well as at other major European opera...
and Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
, as well as by the cellist Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló , known during his professional career as Pablo Casals, was a Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time...
.
Sources
- Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Benjamin Godard". Almanacco Amadeus. Accessed 13 March 2011
- Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie Digital archives. Premiere cast list: Jocelyn. Accessed 15 March 2011
- Godard, Benjamin (1888) Vocal score: Jocelyn Op.100. Paris: Choudens fils (nd.) at IMSLP
- Upton, George Putnam and Borowski, Felix (1947). The Standard Concert Guide. Halcyon House.