Helvellyn

Helvellyn is an English opera in four acts, music by George Alexander Macfarren and libretto by John Oxenford, after Salomon Mosenthal's play Der Sonnwendhof. It was first performed in London, on November 3, 1864.

Principal characters

• Mabel - soprano
• Hannah - soprano
• Luke - tenor
• Martin - tenor
• Old Steenie - bass

Structure of opera

• Illustrated Overture

Act I

• No. 1. Introduction: „What’s that?“ (Steenie, Chorus)
• No. 2. Recitative: „While supper’s getting ready“ (Steenie, Chorus)
• No. 2a. Song: „The sky with crimson“ (Steenie, Chorus)
• No. 3. Recit: „You all are here“ (Mabel, Martin, Chorus)
• No. 3a. Song: „A blessing on the harvest fall“ (Martin)
• No. 4. Recit: „A blessing“ (Mabel, Martin)
• No. 4a. Quartett with Chorus: „Who comes yonder“ (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Steenie, Chorus)
• No. 5. Recit & Song: „O Providence“ – „When my ample store“ (Mabel)
• No. 6. Finale: „Of all the trades“ (Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, Chorus)
• No. 6a. Quartett with Chorus: „Every thought“ (Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, Chorus)

Act II

• No. 7. Scena: „For nearly a month“ (Luke)
• No. 8. Recit: „Take this“ (Hannah, Luke, Chorus)
• No. 8a. Duet with Chorus: „Come here my pretty dear“ (Hannah, Luke, Chorus)
• No. 9. Part Song: „Harvest home“ (Chorus)
• No. 10. Recit: „Well done brave hearts“ (Hannah, Martin)
• No. 10a. Ballad: „Wear this flower and think of me“ (Martin)
• No. 11. Harvest Home Scene (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Steenie, Chorus)
• No. 11a. Song with Chorus: „Here’s a health to our worthy master“ (Luke)
• No. 12. Recit: „She’s gone“ (Mabel, Martin)
• No. 12a. Trio: „Zooks this is a glorious place“ (Mabel, Martin, Luke)
• No. 13. Scena: „She loves me“ (Martin)
• No. 13a. Romance: „She is my appointed fate“ (Mabel)

Act III

• No. 14. Chorus: „Here you may lead a tranquil life“ (Chorus)
• No. 15. Aria: „On my heart a weight“ (Hannah)
• No. 16. Recit: „Yes there she sits“ (Martin)
• No. 16a. Duet: „The generous Mabel“ (Hannah, Martin)
• No. 16b. Duettino: „The thought that so long“ (Hannah, Martin)
• No. 17. Recit: „Nay, Hannah“ (Martin)
• No. 17a. Romance: „Oh Hannah, Hannah, Hannah speak“ (Martin)
• No. 18. Finale: „How calm and bright“ (Hannah, Mabel, Martin, Luke, Steenie, Chorus)
• No. 18a. Duet: „The brightest hope“ (Hannah, Mabel)

Act IV

• No. 19. Entr'acte
• No. 19a. Romance: „Wildly flies my spinning whell“ (Mabel)
• No. 20. Recit: „Mistress“ (Mabel, Martin)
• No. 20a. Duet: „To Helvellyn poor i came“ (Mabel, Martin)
• No. 21. Finale: „I have toil’d up the hill“ (All)
• No. 21a. Song: „I’ve watched him“ (Hannah)

Sources

• The Complete Dictionary of Opera & Operetta, James Anderson, Wings Books, 1993.