Opera Books
THE OPERA
EDITED BY
ALBERT HILLERY BERGH
VOLUME IV.
1909
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Brüll.
Ignaz Brüll was born
November 7, 1846, at Prossnitz, Moravia. He studied the piano with
Epstein at Vienna, composition with Rufinatscha, and afterwards Dessolf.
When he had become a competent pianist, he gave concerts in Vienna of
his own compositions, and, later on, made concert tours as pianist.
The increasing success of Das Goldene Kreuz, which was
produced at Berlin in 1875, induced him to devote himself entirely to
composition. His other operas include Die Better von Samarkard
(1864); Der Landfriede (1877); Bianca (1879); Königin
Mariette (1883); Das steinerne Herz (1888), and Gringoire
(1892). He has also composed a Macbeth overture and numerous
instrumental and vocal pieces.
Das Goldene Kreuz.
(The Golden Cross.)
An opera in two acts
by Ignaz Brüll. Libretto adapted by H. S. Mosenthal from the French
comedy, La Croix d’Or, by Brazier and Melville.
Characters: Gontran de L’Ancry; Nicolas Pariset; Christina, his
sister; Theresa, his cousin and betrothed;
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Bombardon, a sergeant; soldiers, peasants, village youths and maidens.
Place, France. Time, 1812. First produced at Berlin in 1875.
Nicolas Pariset, an innkeeper, is betrothed to his cousin Thérèse.
Unfortunately, on his wedding day a sergeant named Bombardon levies him
for the army, which is to march against the Russians. Vainly does
Thèrése, joined by Christine, plead for her betrothed. Christine is
passionately attached to her brother, who has hitherto been her only
care. Finally Christine promises to marry any man who will go as his
substitute. Gontran de l’Ancry, a young nobleman, whose heart is touched
by the maiden’s beauty, places himself at Bombardon’s disposal and
receives from him the golden cross, which Christine has placed in his
hands, to be offered as a pledge of fidelity to her brother’s deliverer.
Christine docs not make his acquaintance, as Gontran departs immediately.
The act closes with the marriage of Thérèse and Nicolas.
The second act takes place two years later. Nicolas, who has gone
to the war, has been wounded, but was saved from being killed by an
officer. Both return to Nicolas’ house as invalids, and are tended by
the two women. The strange officer, who is no other than Gontran, loves
Christine, and she returns his passion, but deeming herself bound to
another, she does not betray her feeling. Gontran is about to bid her
farewell, but when in the act of taking leave he perceives her love and
tells her that he is the officer who was once substitute for her brother
in the war.
Christine is full of happiness. Gontran, when asked
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for the token of her promise, tolls her that the cross was taken from
him as he lay senseless on the field of battle. At this moment
Bombardon, returning also as an invalid, presents the cross to
Christine, and she, believing that Gontran has lied to her and that
Bombardon is her brother’s substitute, promises her hand to him with a
sorrowful heart, but Bombardon declares that the true owner of the cross
fell on the battlefield and that he took it from the dead body.
Christine now resolves to enter a convent, when. suddenly Gontran’s
voice is heard. Bombardon recognizes his friend, whom he believed to be
dead, everything is explained and the scene ends with the marriage of
the lovers.
Opera in one act by
Ignaz Brüll. Libretto adapted by Victor Leon from the play of the same
name by Théodore de Banville.
Characters: Louis XI; Olivier, his barber; Simon Fourniez, a
merchant; Loyse, his daughter; Nicole, his sister; Pierre Gringoire, a
street singer.
Place, the house of Fourniez, in Tours. Time, 1496. First produced
at Munich in 1892.
Olivier informs Fourniez that the King, who is hunting in the
neighborhood, will be his guest. Fourniez rejoices over this honor, even
more so when he hears that the King’s favorite, Olivier, cares for his
daughter. Loyse, however, desires to have nothing to do with Olivier.
When the King comes Fourniez tries his best to bring about Loyse’s
marriage. Meanwhile
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the street-singer, Gringoire, sings before Fourniez’s door, and the King
bids him enter.
The minstrel is hated by Olivier, whom he has ridiculed in his
songs. Therefore Olivier turns the King against him, and the King makes
the hungry minstrel earn his meal by singing a song. As he does not
recognize the King, he sings in mockery of the sovereign, and
then learns the identity of the guests. Hegives up all hope, but matters
turn out otherwise than Olivier planned, because the King, after
recognizing both the singer’s genius and the attachment between him and
Loyse, forgives and unites the happy lovers.
Last updated April 19, 2007