Etienne-Nicolas Mehul (1763-1817)
Uthal, opera in one act.
Libretto by Jacques-Benjamin-Maximilien Bins de Saint-Victor after James Macpherson
Premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 17 May 1806.
“On 17th May 1806, the Opéra Comique gave the first performance of Uthal, a curious opera by Méhul, marked by an exceptional romantic atmosphere, on a libretto inspired by Ossian”.
Lionel de La Laurencie did not go wrong when, as recently as 1925, he commented on the most original opera of Napoleon's era, rejecting the accepted idea that the music of that time only expressed superficial pomp. After the success of Lesueur's Les Bardes in 1804, on the stage of the Académie imperiale de musique, the Opéra Comique commissioned Méhul to write a short and striking piece, inspired by Macpherson's Ossian inspired dreams, which were being discovered in France at the time. The composer had the inspired-and risky- idea to translate the mists of a fantasized Scotland in the colourless tones of an orchestra without violins. The gothic aspect of wind instruments and the melancholy poetry of the harp sounding sporadically above them contrast strongly with war choruses and Larmor's and Uthal's bellicose tones. Already in the overture, Méhul innovates with the character of Malvina desperately calling her father from the wings. The choir itself is only composed of men's voices. The Hymne au Soleil (Sun Hymn), a highly romantic bard song, is remembered as one of the composer's best pages. The Conservatoire students would sing it at his funeral in 1887.
“The opera Uthal, performed in 1806, offered Mr. Méhul a wealth of opportunities for innovation. Uthal is a subject inspired by Ossian, an unknown world, which music had not yet approached.” (Le Camp Volant, 1819)
Read more about Uthal on wikipedia.
Painting Le Songe d'Ossian by Ingres.
Cast:
Karine Deshayes, Malvina
Yann Beuron, Uthal
Jean-Sébastien Bou, Larmor
Sébastien Droy, Ullin
Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Le Chef des Bardes, Third Barde
Reinoud Van Mechelen, First Barde
Artavazd Sargsyan, Second Barde
Jacques-Greg Belobo, Fourth Barde
Choeur de Chambre de Namur
Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset, conductor
Book tickets online.
Château de Versailles – Place d'Armes – 78000 Versailles
Entrance by the “Grille d'Honneur”.
France
How to get there.
Langue(s) : French