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Sāvitri (opera)

January 21, 2023

For other uses, see Savitri.

Sāvitri is a chamber opera in one act with music composed by Gustav Holst, his Opus 25, to his own libretto. The story is based on the episode of Savitri and Satyavan from the Mahābhārata, which was also included in Specimens of Old Indian Poetry (Ralph Griffiths) and Idylls from the Sanskrit.[1] The opera features three solo singers, a wordless female chorus, and a chamber orchestra of 12 musicians (consisting of 2 flutes, a cor anglais, 2 string quartets and a double bass). Holst had made at least six earlier attempts at composing opera before arriving at Sāvitri.

Sāvitri
Chamber opera by Gustav Holst
Holst, circa 1921
LibrettistHolst
Based onSavitri and Satyavan
Premiere
5 December 1916 (1916-12-05)
Wellington Hall, London

Performance history

The opera was first given in an amateur performance at Wellington Hall, London, on 5 December 1916. Holst had intended the work to be performed "in the open air, or else in a small building".[2] Its first professional performance, conducted by Arthur Bliss, was staged on 23 June 1921 at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith with Dorothy Silk in the title role, Steuart Wilson as Satyavan, and Clive Carey as Death.[3]

Critical appreciation

Holst's friend and fellow composer Ralph Vaughan Williams noted Holst's use of modal style in the opera.[4] John Warrack has commented on Holst's use of bitonality at the opening of the opera, representing the distinct yet subtly connected realms of Sāvitri and Death.[5] Donald Mitchell, in his highly critical comments on the opera, noted the influence of Richard Wagner in the vocal style,[6] even as Holst had nominally renounced the epic scale of Wagner's operas in terms of size of musical forces.[7] Byron Adams has described the opera's characters as more "archetypes" than people.[8] By contrast, Andrew Clements has written highly of how well the opera combines 'Eastern' culture into a 'Western' music format.[9]

Roles

Synopsis

Sāvitri, wife of the woodman Satyavān, hears the voice of Death calling to her. He has come to claim her husband. Satyavān arrives to find his wife in distress, but assures Sāvitri that her fears are but Māyā (illusion):[10] "All is unreal, all is Māyā." Even so, at the arrival of Death, all strength leaves him and he falls to the ground. Sāvitri, now alone and desolate, welcomes Death. The latter, moved to compassion by her greeting, offers her a boon of anything but the return of Satyavān. Sāvitri asks for life in all its fullness. After Death grants her request, she informs him that such a life is impossible without Satyavān. Death, defeated, leaves her. Satyavān awakens. Even "Death is Māyā".

Recordings

References

  1. ^ Head, Raymond (September 1988). "Holst and India (III)". Tempo. New Series (166): 35–40. doi:10.1017/S0040298200024293. JSTOR 945908.
  2. ^ Ottaway, Hugh (June 1974). "Holst as an Opera Composer". The Musical Times. 115 (1576): 473–474. doi:10.2307/957953. JSTOR 957953.
  3. ^ Holst, Imogen (1974). A Thematic Catalogue of Gustav Holst's Music. London: Faber Music. p. 86. ISBN 0-571-10004-X.
  4. ^ Vaughan Williams, Ralph (October 1920). "Gustav Holst (Continued)". Music & Letters. 1 (4): 305–317. doi:10.1093/ml/I.4.305. JSTOR 726997.
  5. ^ Warrack, John (September 1974). "Holst and the Linear Principle". The Musical Times. 115 (1579): 732–735. doi:10.2307/957840. JSTOR 957840.
  6. ^ Mitchell, Donald (November 1956). "London Concerts and Opera". The Musical Times. 97 (1365): 596–597. doi:10.2307/938276. JSTOR 938276.
  7. ^ Colin Matthews, liner notes to Hyperion Recording of Sāvitri, CDH55042 (2000 reissue).
  8. ^ Adams, Byron (Winter 1992). "Review of Gustav Holst: The Man and His Music by Michael Short". The Musical Quarterly. 76 (4): 584–591. doi:10.1093/mq/76.4.584. PMC 493520.
  9. ^ Andrew Clements (20 May 2004). "Savitri (Symphony Hall, Birmingham)". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
  10. ^ Trend, J. B. (October 1921). "Savitri, an Opera from the Sanskrit". Music & Letters. 2 (4): 345–350. doi:10.1093/ml/II.4.345. JSTOR 726591.

Further reading

  • Parrott, Ian (1967). "Holst's Savitri and Bitonality." The Music Review, vol. 28, pp. 323–328.

External links

January 21, 2023
sāvitri, opera, other, uses, savitri, sāvitri, chamber, opera, with, music, composed, gustav, holst, opus, libretto, story, based, episode, savitri, satyavan, from, mahābhārata, which, also, included, specimens, indian, poetry, ralph, griffiths, idylls, from, . For other uses see Savitri Savitri is a chamber opera in one act with music composed by Gustav Holst his Opus 25 to his own libretto The story is based on the episode of Savitri and Satyavan from the Mahabharata which was also included in Specimens of Old Indian Poetry Ralph Griffiths and Idylls from the Sanskrit 1 The opera features three solo singers a wordless female chorus and a chamber orchestra of 12 musicians consisting of 2 flutes a cor anglais 2 string quartets and a double bass Holst had made at least six earlier attempts at composing opera before arriving at Savitri SavitriChamber opera by Gustav HolstHolst circa 1921LibrettistHolstBased onSavitri and SatyavanPremiere5 December 1916 1916 12 05 Wellington Hall London Contents 1 Performance history 2 Critical appreciation 3 Roles 4 Synopsis 5 Recordings 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksPerformance history EditThe opera was first given in an amateur performance at Wellington Hall London on 5 December 1916 Holst had intended the work to be performed in the open air or else in a small building 2 Its first professional performance conducted by Arthur Bliss was staged on 23 June 1921 at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith with Dorothy Silk in the title role Steuart Wilson as Satyavan and Clive Carey as Death 3 Critical appreciation EditHolst s friend and fellow composer Ralph Vaughan Williams noted Holst s use of modal style in the opera 4 John Warrack has commented on Holst s use of bitonality at the opening of the opera representing the distinct yet subtly connected realms of Savitri and Death 5 Donald Mitchell in his highly critical comments on the opera noted the influence of Richard Wagner in the vocal style 6 even as Holst had nominally renounced the epic scale of Wagner s operas in terms of size of musical forces 7 Byron Adams has described the opera s characters as more archetypes than people 8 By contrast Andrew Clements has written highly of how well the opera combines Eastern culture into a Western music format 9 Roles EditSatyavan tenor Savitri soprano Death bass Synopsis EditSavitri wife of the woodman Satyavan hears the voice of Death calling to her He has come to claim her husband Satyavan arrives to find his wife in distress but assures Savitri that her fears are but Maya illusion 10 All is unreal all is Maya Even so at the arrival of Death all strength leaves him and he falls to the ground Savitri now alone and desolate welcomes Death The latter moved to compassion by her greeting offers her a boon of anything but the return of Satyavan Savitri asks for life in all its fullness After Death grants her request she informs him that such a life is impossible without Satyavan Death defeated leaves her Satyavan awakens Even Death is Maya Recordings EditDecca Dame Janet Baker Robert Tear Thomas Hemsley Purcell Singers English Chamber Orchestra Imogen Holst conductor Hyperion CDH55042 Helios reissue Felicity Palmer Philip Langridge Stephen Varcoe The Richard Hickox Singers City of London Sinfonia Richard Hickox conductor 1983 Phoenix PHCD 14 Jessica Miller Simon O Neill Kyu Won Han Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater Manhattan Chamber Sinfonia Glen Barton Cortese conductorReferences Edit Head Raymond September 1988 Holst and India III Tempo New Series 166 35 40 doi 10 1017 S0040298200024293 JSTOR 945908 Ottaway Hugh June 1974 Holst as an Opera Composer The Musical Times 115 1576 473 474 doi 10 2307 957953 JSTOR 957953 Holst Imogen 1974 A Thematic Catalogue of Gustav Holst s Music London Faber Music p 86 ISBN 0 571 10004 X Vaughan Williams Ralph October 1920 Gustav Holst Continued Music amp Letters 1 4 305 317 doi 10 1093 ml I 4 305 JSTOR 726997 Warrack John September 1974 Holst and the Linear Principle The Musical Times 115 1579 732 735 doi 10 2307 957840 JSTOR 957840 Mitchell Donald November 1956 London Concerts and Opera The Musical Times 97 1365 596 597 doi 10 2307 938276 JSTOR 938276 Colin Matthews liner notes to Hyperion Recording of Savitri CDH55042 2000 reissue Adams Byron Winter 1992 Review of Gustav Holst The Man and His Music by Michael Short The Musical Quarterly 76 4 584 591 doi 10 1093 mq 76 4 584 PMC 493520 Andrew Clements 20 May 2004 Savitri Symphony Hall Birmingham The Guardian Retrieved 14 July 2007 Trend J B October 1921 Savitri an Opera from the Sanskrit Music amp Letters 2 4 345 350 doi 10 1093 ml II 4 345 JSTOR 726591 Further reading EditParrott Ian 1967 Holst s Savitri and Bitonality The Music Review vol 28 pp 323 328 External links EditWork details Wise Music Classical Savitri Holst Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Savitri opera amp oldid 1095863701, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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