Here's a rarity worth staying up for:
NTR Opera Live: César Franck, Ghiselle (Opname: AVRO, 31 mei 1987)
Frédégonde ..... Mary Willems, sopraan
Theudebert ...... Ruud van der Meer, bariton
Gonthram ..... Zeger Vandersteene, tenor ..... Ghiselle
Thea van der Putten, sopraan
Gudruna ..... Lucia Meeuwsen, mezzosopraan
Bisschop Ambrosius ..... Lieuwe Visser, bas
Groot Omroepkoor Radio Symfonie Orkest
KENNETH MONTGOMERY (4 hrs.)
Broadcast on Radio 4 Netherland on Saturday 20 Feb.
Rarity doesn't do it justice. Wish I could get it here. On Arkivmusic's site they don't even list Opera as a composition type of Franck. Has this ever been recorded?
Ignore Arkivmusic, we know Franck wrote at least -one- opera (Hulda)... (which was recorded , not just the ballet from it, on Melodram LP). (Also the 1841 opera Stradella.)
As to Ghiselle, not sure. I do see from IMSLP (https://imslp.org/wiki/Ghiselle_(Franck%2C_C%C3%A9sar)):
"The composer only orchestrated Act I before his death. Act II was orchestrated by
Pierre de Bréville, Vincent d' Indy and Ernest Chausson, Act III by Samuel Alexandre Rousseau
and Act IV by Arthur Coquard".
(There is also a Wikipedia article @ Ghiselle.)
btw, some of Ghiselle has been (commercially?) recorded- an organ arrangement of the prelude. :) "Stradella" (1841) and perhaps Hulda also have been more fortunate.
Fascinating. I'll see if I can record it, but don't let that stop anyone else having a go, please.
Unfortunately my attempt at recording Ghiselle tonight failed miserably. Did anyone else manage to make a successful one?
I have recorded it even though for some time now my PC recordings have got numerous blips in them. I can't identify why that is happening. The broadcast included other music by C. Franck but Ghiselle itself lasts for 135 minutes.
If no one else has a blip free recording I can upload it.
I would really appreciate it if you could, please. Very many thanks in advance.
I've just uploaded it. I got it from the replay section of radio 4. If there are blips, which I didn't check, it's radio 4's fault!
Thanks Jdperdrix. Could you please post a link to Nederland Radio 4's replay section - my Dutch isn't what it used to be!
Here you go:
https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten (https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten)
NB My Dutch is inexistant, but google translate works pretty well from Dutch to English! (Less so to French)
Great. Thanks again, it'll be a fascinating listen.
That was great! Very enjoyable. I have no idea what was going on, but the music was sure fine! ;) Cesar Franck remains the least-known of the great composers. Thanks for posting the link.
QuoteI have no idea what was going on
Here's the synopsis in Dutch (https://www.nporadio4.nl/ntroperalive/gemist) - Google translate gives an approximate, but understandable translation.
For those with an aversion to Google Translate, here's my tidying up of its translation of the synopsis. As you'll see it's an everyday story of country folk:
ACT I: The great hall of the Palace of Thermes in Paris at the time of the regency of Frédégonde, in the sixth century AD.
Frédégonde receives her victorious Neustrian army which, under the command of the brave Gonthram, defeated the Austrasians. The Queen gives the victor a seat next to her. She's in love with Gonthram. The nobleman Theudebert sings a hymn to Gallic wine and asks if a poet could sing of victory for the entire meeting, as is customary. The Queen gives that task to Ghiselle, an Austrasian of noble blood who has been a prisoner at the Neustrian court for 20 years. Gonthram, who is in love with Ghiselle, doesn't think that's a good idea, but Frédégonde believes this is a exquisite, humiliating assignment for Ghiselle. When Ghiselle appears, she is confused on seeing Gonthram: she is in love with him, but he is the conqueror of her homeland and she should hate him. Frédégonde asks her to sing about the victory of the Neustrians in a war song. Ghiselle sings, but gradually reveals her hatred of the "cowardly sons of Neustria". Frédégonde and her men become restless, but Ghiselle does not stop until she has blamed her enemy for all the misery that has happened to her: her father and her brothers have been killed, her mother has disappeared and she herself has been stripped of all that was dear to her. Gonthram places himself between the furious nobles and Ghiselle, at which Frédégonde realizes to her great annoyance that Gonthram is in love with Ghiselle. She sends all but two of the nobles away; they guard Ghiselle, before whom she tries to seduce Gonthram by offering him her hand and the crown of Neustria. Gonthram replies that a holy love binds him to another. He leads Ghiselle to Frédégonde and asks if the Queen will allow their marriage, but Frédégonde calls back Theudebert and gives him Ghiselle as a slave, instructing him to take Ghiselle away. Theudebert and Gonthram clash, but are separated by returning noblemen as no fighting is allowed in the palace. The two men agree to meet in a clearing in a nearby forest.
ACT II: A forest clearing outside Paris, near a cottage.
An old woman, Gudruna, mother of Ghiselle, is mixing herbs for her potions before her cottage. The sorceress and priestess of Odin summons the spirits of her deceased relatives, and sees her dead children in front of her, but amongst these shadows she doesn't see Ghiselle. Where is her daughter, for whom she has searched everywhere? Gonthram appears and, when Gudruna asks for alms, he throws her his gold medallion. The sorceress reads his palm and predicts his death. Theudebert arrives at the clearing and challenges Gonthram. He's followed by Ghiselle, who gives Gonthram her support. He quickly overcomes Theudebert, but lets him live. Furious, Theudebert leaves. Gonthram thanks the Christian God, and Ghiselle calls upon the pagan gods. The pair swear eternal allegiance. A marching band in the distance announces the arrival of a hunting procession and, before the pair can flee, Frédégonde, Theudebert and the royal entourage arrive. Frédégonde is angry about Theudebert's defeat and determines to destroy the love between Gonthram and Ghiselle by sending her to a monastery. Gonthram wants to prevent that, but Frédégonde puts a price on the rebel's head, prompting Theudebert to throw his spear at Gonthram, who is falls to the ground, shouting "I die". Ghiselle is led away and Frédégonde ironically bids farewell to Gonthram's corpse. Gudruna emerges from her cottage and tends Gonthram's wound. He gradually revives with the name "Ghiselle" on his lips, reminding the sorceress of her daughter.
ACT III: Saint-Etienne convent in Paris, adjacent to the Merovingian basilica of Saint Mary.
Through large doors we see part of the nave of the basilica, where Frédégonde sits on the throne, surrounded by her vassals, watching the ceremony as Bishop Ambrosius conducts the ordination of Ghiselle as a nun. She proclaims the promises of chastity, humility and poverty; she has given up the love of Gonthram because she thinks he is dead, and devotes herself to the Lord Jesus. Ambrosius then calls her the wife of the Lord, holy deaconess and his sister. Frédégonde and her vassals approach to mock Ghiselle. The bishop orders the Queen to stop doing so, and when she ignores him, he forces her to leave the church. The bishop comforts Ghiselle. Left alone, Ghiselle surrenders to her despair. She cannot forget Gonthram and begs Jesus to make him appear before her, to no avail. She then Ghiselle calls on the pagan gods of her youth, at which Gonthram appears, with bloodied face. He wants to run away with Ghiselle, but they're prevented by the bishop. He tells them that they must part, and threatens to curse them if they don't. Gonthram takes Ghiselle to the steps of the altar and hugs her there. Surrounded by his priests, the bishop curses them and as he leaves instructs the priests to close the gates of the baptistery, to entomb them. Gonthram suggests flight, but she has lost her mind and no longer recognizes her lover. Outside, hammers can be heard nailing shut the gates. A crowd set the chapel on fire, a wall collapses and Gonthram leads Ghiselle through the opening. They find a boat on the banks of the Seine, reach the opposite side and flee. The bishop surrenders the fugitives to the vengeance of the people.
ACT IV: Gudruna's cottage.
Gudruna is contriving her spells, and consults the runes to find out if Ghiselle is still alive. As she, convinced that Ghiselle lives, exclaims "Come! Come! Come!" the door suddenly opens: a bloodied Gonthram enters the hut, pulling Ghiselle with him. He asks for shelter, which Gudruna refuses. Ghiselle, who now believes Gonthram is a devil, asks Gudruna for protection from him, but the sorceress pushes her away. Ghiselle begins to sing a lullaby that Gudruna sang to her during her childhood and her mother recognizes her. Soldiers, searching for the escapees, are approaching and Gonthram wants to kill Ghiselle and then stab himself. The sorceress prevents him, but then suggests drinking poison. She glorifies love and death and then allows the pair to drink poison after she has consecrated their marriage through a mystical ceremony. Ghiselle throws herself into the arms of her husband, who she finally recognizes. The poison as it begins to work causes them to have delusions: they see the paradise of Odin, a world that frees them from every obstacle and gives them eternal love. As they die, Gudruna calls on Odin to receive them into Valhalla. At that moment, the soldiers and a mob appear at the door of the hut. Full of bravado, the sorceress shows them the two lifeless bodies.
Thanks, Mark, for your editing work!
I enjoyed this opera very much. The 1987 Radio podcast ist of rather good quality - although it sounds as if it has been slightly electronically "enhanced".
But the opera goes only for about 140 minutes, which is far away from 4 hours...
It's crazy all these exciting operas French, French-Dutch and Wallon-French composers were producing during that period!
In various passages of acts 2-4 one already hears Franck`s Symphony in D Minor. Including, in the 2d act, the use of the Cor Anglais, which at that time critics considered an "out of place instrument in a true Symphony".
Thank you so much for your contribution! I'm translating Fauquet's seminal book on Franck. In case anyone is interested, here is the synopsis from there:
This " drame lyrique " without ballet is set in Paris at the end of the 6th century, during the regency of Frédégonde and the reign of the young king Clotaire II, when the Neustrians had just triumphed over the Austrians. Act I is set in the great hall of the Palace of the Baths. A martial prelude follows with the chorus of Gallic and Gallo-Roman nobles celebrating the victorious Franks and the valour of their leader Gonthram (tenor, Christian hero), who is loved by the terrible Frédégonde (falcon soprano). But Gonthram, who makes his entrance to the sound of an extended choral march, is in love with Ghiselle (soprano, pagan heroine), a beautiful and proud Austrian of royal blood 'for twenty years * captive in the court of Neustria'. There follows a drinking scene, launched by a song by Theudebert ('O Gallic wine'), which has the merit of being short. Theudebert demands that, as is customary, a poet should come and sing a triumphant bardit. But Frédégonde orders Ghiselle to be brought in because 'no poet at my court improvises better'. Gonthram's emotion at the idea of seeing his beloved again is expressed in a superb theme which reappears in the following acts, again in the orchestra, to refer to Ghiselle and the love for her. Frédégonde orders Ghiselle to improvise a heroic song. Instead, the prisoner sings an energetic "war story" in which, invoking her gods, she exalts her own race and curses the victors. She is jeered at by the assembly, which demands vengeance. By protecting her, Gonthram reveals his love for the beautiful captive, thus arousing the jealousy of Frédégonde. In a "seduction scene", she tries to attract Gonthram, who rejects her. Duet then trio. In revenge, the queen offers Ghiselle as a slave to her feudal Theudebert (baritone). Ghiselle, in a proud vocal assault, rebels against this humiliation. Gonthram challenges Theudebert to a duel.
A clearing at the entrance to the woods surrounding Paris forms the setting for Act II. The theme of the very beautiful prelude, slow and calm, in Franck's favourite F sharp minor key, is associated with the character of Gudruna (mezzo-soprano), a fallen Austrian queen, sorceress, priestess of the cult of Odin. She invokes the spirits, certain that Ghiselle, her daughter, who was once taken from her, still lives. She melancholically recalls the song she used to sing to her ('Alas, what land is there for you, / Bird that the fowler has taken from me, / My beautiful lily, my pale flower, / My little child, my Ghiselle?) This sad and sweet song, with its modal character, admirably crafted, will play a decisive dramatic role in Act IV. The scene is one of the emotional high points of the score. Gonthram arrives to confront Theudebert. Gudruna asks him for alms. "Take," he tells him, "but only in the name of the Lord Jesus." But to thank him, Gudruna invokes Herta, wife of the god Odin [alias Wotan], and predicts a fatal fate for Gonthram. Theudebert appears followed by Ghiselle, while Gudruna has been hidding behind the bushes! The fight leads to a trio. Throwing herself at the foot of a cross, Ghiselle promises to be converted if Gonthram wins the duel. As a sign from heaven, Theudebert is wounded. But as befits the first tenor in such circumstances, Gonthram makes a noble gesture: "I will be merciful, but I will keep Ghiselle!" Then flow tears of happiness from the aforementioned. The lovers swear to be each other's forever. At the sound of the bells of the basilica, they place themselves under divine protection, then unite in a duet which is soon interrupted by horn calls announcing the arrival of Frédégonde and her leudes*. The queen ironically addresses Ghiselle with a "Salut, prudish captive!" Furious that fate has brought Gonthram and Ghiselle together, Frédégonde decides to lock Ghiselle up in a convent. Gonthram challenges Frédégonde and her retinue. A grand ensemble, as eventful as it should be. Gonthram is bested by Theudebert and falls. Ghiselle cries out her hatred and pain. She is led away by the leudes. To the music of the act's prelude, the old Gudruna heals Gonthram, while the song's encore brings peace.
The setting for Act III is the baptistery of St Stephen's adjoining the Basilica of St Mary. It is night. A few bars introduce the ceremony performed by Bishop Ambrosius (bass) during which he consecrates Ghiselle, who believes Gonthram to be dead, as deaconess. The queen enters, insults and mocks her. Scandalised by this blasphemy, Ambrosius confronts Frédégonde and then tries with pious words to appease Ghiselle. But she evokes Gonthram while the Miserere is being chanted in the adjacent basilica. Gonthram appears and threatens the bishop, whose authority he contests for the one he loves. Ambrosius casts a curse on the lovers. He abandons them at the foot of the altar and leaves, accompanied by the deacons. Ghiselle, overwhelmed with guilt, has lost her mind and does not recognise Gonthram. The doors of the baptistery are closed and set on fire. Part of the building collapses, and Gonthram flees, taking Ghiselle by force. The two of them cross the Seine in a boat under the cover of darkness.
Act IV introduces us to Gudruna's dilapidated hut. The prelude is reminiscent of the one in Act II. The sorceress tries to find out the fate of her daughter by means of occult practices. Gonthram arrives, followed by Ghiselle: chased by the leudes and people who want to put them to death, they ask Gudruna for asylum. Gudruna, fearing the wrath of Frédégonde, refuses at first. Ghiselle, dazed, sees in her lover the devil. She takes refuge in Gudruna's arms, who cradles her, singing the song she heard in Act II. To Gudruna's astonishment, Ghiselle herself completes the song: the old queen has found her daughter, but she will soon lose her. She consecrates Ghiselle's union with Gonthram according to pagan rites, Ghiselle tragically confuses the horn calls of Frederick's leudes with those of her brothers, whom she imagines to be returning victorious from the battle against the Neustrians. As the troop approaches the hut, Gonthram draws his dagger. But Gudruna proposes to the lovers that they be saved from Christian fanaticism by the gentler means of poison. Death as the ultimate pleasure is celebrated in a trio. Gonthram and Ghiselle die in peace. Gudruna promises them the immortality of Walhalla. She invokes Odin so that "love in dreams without awakening, lulls their eternal sleep forever". When soldiers and commoners crowd the entrance to the hut, Gudruna shows them the two lovers lying dead.
This is still a first draft, so bear with me!