Nina (Dalayrac)
Encyclopedia
Nina, ou La folle par amour (Nina, or The Woman Crazed with Love) is an opera
in one act by the French composer Nicolas Dalayrac
. It was first performed at the Comédie-Italienne
in Paris
on 15 May 1786. The libretto
, by Benoît-Joseph Marsollier des Vivetières, is based on a short story by Baculard d'Arnaud.
. Following its premiere at the Comédie-Italienne on 15 May 1786, Nina was a popular success and remained so in Paris until the mid-19th century. It was also performed in translation in London and Hamburg in 1787 and in Italy in 1788. It was revived again for Paris as late as 1852.
Its most famous aria
, "Quand le bien-aimé reviendra" ("When my sweetheart returns to me"), is mentioned by Hector Berlioz
in his Memoirs as his "first musical experience" (he heard an adaptation of the melody sung during his First Communion
.) In 1813 Dalayrac's score for Nina was adapted as a ballet by Louis Milon
and Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis
with Émilie Bigottini
in the title role. In the ballet version, "Quand le bien-aimé reviendra" is played as a solo for cor anglais
. It was at one of the early performances of this ballet that Berlioz remembered the melody he had heard in his childhood.. Giovanni Paisiello
had also set the libretto in an Italian version adapted by Giambattista Lorenzi. Paisiello's Nina, which premiered in 1789 is still performed today, while Dalayrac's has fallen into obscurity.
. She only regains her reason when Germeuil reappears unharmed and her father finally allows him to marry her.
(soprano), Richard Bonynge
(piano), Decca
, 2006)
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 one act by the French composer Nicolas Dalayrac
Nicolas Dalayrac
Nicolas-Marie d'Alayrac, known as Nicolas Dalayrac , was a French composer, best known for his opéras-comiques.- Biography :...
. It was first performed at the Comédie-Italienne
Comédie-Italienne
Over time, there have been several buildings and several theatrical companies named the "Théâtre-Italien" or the "Comédie-Italienne" in Paris. Following the times, the theatre has shown both plays and operas...
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 15 May 1786. The 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 Benoît-Joseph Marsollier des Vivetières, is based on a short story by Baculard d'Arnaud.
Background and performance history
Nina was Dalayrac's first collaboration with Marsollier des Vivetières, who would go on to write many more librettos for him, including Les deux petits savoyardsLes deux petits savoyards
Les deux petits savoyards is a comic opera in one act by the French composer Nicolas Dalayrac. It was first performed at the Comédie-Italienne, Paris on January 14, 1789. The libretto is by Benoît-Joseph Marsollier des Vivetières. The opera was a great success; according to the records of the...
. Following its premiere at the Comédie-Italienne on 15 May 1786, Nina was a popular success and remained so in Paris until the mid-19th century. It was also performed in translation in London and Hamburg in 1787 and in Italy in 1788. It was revived again for Paris as late as 1852.
Its most famous aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
, "Quand le bien-aimé reviendra" ("When my sweetheart returns to me"), is mentioned by Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
in his Memoirs as his "first musical experience" (he heard an adaptation of the melody sung during his First Communion
First Communion
The First Communion, or First Holy Communion, is a Catholic Church ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church...
.) In 1813 Dalayrac's score for Nina was adapted as a ballet by Louis Milon
Louis Milon
Louis-Jacques-Jessé Milon was a French ballet dancer and ballet master.-Life:After some years spent as premier danseur at Paris's Académie royale de Musique, he became ballet master at the Ambigu-Comique, where he had much success with Boulevard plays...
and Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis
Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis
Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis was a French violinist, conductor, choirmaster, teacher, composer, and theatre director....
with Émilie Bigottini
Émilie Bigottini
Émilie Bigottini was a French dancer of Italian ancestry.The daughter of Francesco Bigottini, the famous harlequin at Paris's Comédie-Italienne de Paris, she entered the Opéra de Paris at 17 and led its company until her retirement in 1823, distinguishing herself in the ballets of Louis Milon...
in the title role. In the ballet version, "Quand le bien-aimé reviendra" is played as a solo for cor anglais
Cor anglais
The cor anglais , or English horn , is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family....
. It was at one of the early performances of this ballet that Berlioz remembered the melody he had heard in his childhood.. Giovanni Paisiello
Giovanni Paisiello
Giovanni Paisiello was an Italian composer of the Classical era.-Life:Paisiello was born at Taranto and educated by the Jesuits there. He became known for his beautiful singing voice and in 1754 was sent to the Conservatorio di S. Onofrio at Naples, where he studied under Francesco Durante, and...
had also set the libretto in an Italian version adapted by Giambattista Lorenzi. Paisiello's Nina, which premiered in 1789 is still performed today, while Dalayrac's has fallen into obscurity.
Roles
| Cast | Voice type | Premiere, 15 May 1786 |
|---|---|---|
| Nina | 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... |
Louise Dugazon Louise-Rosalie Lefebvre Louise-Rosalie Lefebvre , also known as Madame Dugazon, was a French operatic mezzo-soprano, actress and dancer.... |
| Count Lindoro | 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... |
|
| Germeuil | tenor | |
| Mathurine | 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... |
Marie Crétu-Simonet |
| Georges | 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... |
|
| A musician | ||
| A second musician | ||
Synopsis
Nina is in love with Germeuil but her father, Count Lindoro, favours another suitor. Germeuil and his rival fight a duel. Nina believes that Germeuil has been killed and goes mad, forgetting aspects of the traumatic incident in a manner consistent with a diagnosis of psychogenic amnesiaPsychogenic amnesia
Psychogenic amnesia, also known as functional amnesia or dissociative amnesia, is a memory disorder characterized by extreme memory loss that is caused by extensive psychological stress and that cannot be attributed to a known neurobiological cause...
. She only regains her reason when Germeuil reappears unharmed and her father finally allows him to marry her.
Recordings
Although there are no full-length recordings of Nina, its most famous aria, "Quand le bien-aimé reviendra", can be heard on Serate Musicali (Joan SutherlandJoan Sutherland
Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s....
(soprano), Richard Bonynge
Richard Bonynge
Richard Alan Bonynge, AO, CBE is an Australian conductor and pianist.Bonynge was born in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London. He gave up his music scholarship, continuing his private piano studies, and became a coach for...
(piano), Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, 2006)
External links
- Libretto in the original French.