Significant French Operas
Titles beginning with U
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Uthal
Opera in 1 act
Music by Etienne-Nicolas Méhul
Libretto by J.M.B. Bins de Saint-Victor
First Performance: Opéra-Comique [Théâtre Feydeau], Paris, May 17, 1806
Cast:
Larmor, chef de Dunthalmon
Malvina, fille de Larmor
Uthal, Époux de Malvina
Ullin, Barde attaché a Larmor
Un Chef des Bardes de Fingal
1er Bard
2md Bard
Chœur de Bardes,
Chœur de Guerriers de Morven
Background
Synopsis
The opera
takes place in the midst of a forest close by the sea. It is night.
Malvina has abandoned her husband, Uthal, because he has usurped
the throne of her father, Larmor, Chief of Dunthalmor. In the opening
scene Larmor embraces his daughter and expresses his joy that she has
come to stay with him and comfort him in his misery. In dialogue Larmor
tells Malvina that his most faithful bard (later revealed to be Ullin)
has gone to Fingal, King of Morven, to tell him his story and that
Fingal is now sending his warriors to enable Larmor to gain revenge upon
Uthal. Malvina, despite her acknowledgement of Uthal's guilt, still
loves her husband, and she begs her father to avoid bloodshed and to
seek a more peaceful means of reconciliation. Larmor, however, is
adamant. Slowly the Morven soldiers are heard approaching as they sing
the praises of Fingal. Their hymn serves as a backdrop as Malvina
expresses her fears for her husband and Larmor his eagerness for
revenge.
Ullin joins Larmor and Malvina. He relates how the noble Fingal had
welcomed him and how, upon hearing the story of Larmor's shame and
adversity, Fingal had magnanimously responded to his need for
assistance. The Morven warriors pledge themselves to Lamor's cause. In
dialogue Larmor bitterly explains how he had married Malvina to Uthal
and how, in return, Uthal had stolen his throne and insluted him by
telling him he was too old to rule. The warriors respond by calling out
for the death of Uthal, Malvina continues to fear for husband and her
father, Larmor remains committed to vengeance, and Ullin advises the
warriors to await daybreak before striking. To prepare the warriors for
the next day's battle, four bards sing a hymn to restful sleep. As the
soldiers sleep, malvina, torn between love for father and her husband,
runs into the forest hoping to find someone to listen to her story.
Uthal has arrived in the interior of the forest. Alone on stage, he
thinks of his past happiness with Malvina, how she has let him to go to
Larmor, and how he has searched everywhere for her. He berates Larmor as
the source of his problems, after a moment's doubt about his own
behavior. He notices the armed camp (which is Larmor's) and a woman
among the warriors who begins to approach her.
Malvina enters, and Uthal is astonished to see her. Malvina does
not at first realize the strange warrior is Uthal, and she begs his help
and understanding, as she explains the armed preparations, the pending
battle, and her father's legitimate thirst for vengeance against her
husband. Uthal listens and, disguising his voice, speaks to her. Slowly
she begins to suspect the warrior is Uthal and finally recognizes him
when he asks whether she hates him because of what he has done to her
father. She answers that she does not and that she could not live were
he to die in combat with Larmor. When she fully recognizes Uthal, he
reproves her for having abandoned him, and she pleads with him to make
peace with Larmor. He begs her to leave with him, but she refuses to
desert her father. In the course of their duet, Larmor's bards overhear
their argument and Ullin and Larmor appear. In dialogue Larmor and Uthal
continue to heap accusations upon each other until Malvina separates the
two men in an attempt to restore them to reason, if only out of pity for
her situation. Uthal admits that he prefers war to relinquishing
Larmor's lands under compulsion, which would make him appear to be
cowardly. when he asks Malvina to choose between himself and Larmor,
Malvina decides that the only moral choice is to stand by her father.
Larmor accepts Uthal's challenge, rallying the soldiers to his support.
During the ensemble the bards strike up a war anthem at Larmor's
request, and the warriors recapitulate their former pledge to Larmor and
go off to battle. Malvina asks the bards for solace, and they respond
with the take of Hidallon - a story of how a son rose against his
father, and how the father ultimately forgave the son. Their singing is
intreupted by the noise of the battle. Malvina sees her father
returning, but there is no sign of Uthal.
Larmour returns to tell Malvina how the Morven forces have defeated
Uthal, who is held prisoner. A military march is heard from offstage as
the victorious forces return. Uthal, in chains, is brought in. Malvina
pleads mercy for him, but Uthal disdains her pity and demands to be
executed. Larmor, claiming to be moved by Malvina's pleas, offers Uthal
exile instead of death. Uthal replies that he prefers such exile to the
condescension he received before his rebellion. Malvina and Ullin agree
that exile is too harsh a punishment, but Larmor remains implacable.
finally Malvina, recognizing that Uthal is now in the position of the
outcast, says she will join him in exile. Uthal, moved by her devotion,
refuses to let her do so. She nonetheless insists she cannot live
without her husband and will leave with him, despite Larmor's pleas that
she not abandon him in his old age. Malvina is about to depart with
Uthal when Uthal acknowledges that Malvina's nobility has subdued his
pride; in recognition of that nobility, he falls to his knees and begs
Larmor's forgiveness. Larmor says he must match the nobility of his
daughter and pardons Uthal. All join in celebrating the happy
denouement.
Libretto
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Last updated: January 22, 2008