libretto: Francis Burdett Money-Coutts
Teatro Real Madrid
Coro y Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real (Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid) & Coro de Niños de la Comunidad de Madrid
cond. José de Eusebio
Teatro Real Madrid
Coro y Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real (Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid) & Coro de Niños de la Comunidad de Madrid
cond. José de Eusebio
Complete cast list:
- Merlin – David Wilson-Johnson
- Morgan le Fay – Eva Marton
- Arthur – Stuart Skelton
- Nivian – Carol Vaness
- Mordred – Ángel Ódena
- King Lot of Orkney – Víctor García Sierra
- Gawain – Ángel Rodríguez
- Sir Ector – Juan Tomás Martínez
- Sir Pellinore – Federico Gallar
- Kay – Eduardo Santamaría
- The Archbishop of Canterbury – Stephen Morscheck
Additional information
Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur
Links for the DVD of Albeniz’s Merlin:
- http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?bcorder=8&opera=Y&opera=1&comp_id=90418
- http://naxosdirect.com/title/OA%200888D/
Merlin Synopsis
by Katrina Becker
Merlin, sorcerer and mentor to Arthur – baritone
Morgan le Fay, sorceress, mother of Mordred – soprano
Arthur – tenor
Nivian, slave to Merlin – soprano
Mordred, son of Morgan le Fay – baritone
King Lot of Orkney, ally of Arthur – bass-baritone
Gawain, ally of Arthur, son of King Lot – tenor
Sir Ector, ally of Arthur – bass
Sir Pellinore, ally of Morgan le Fay and Mordred – baritone
Kay, ally of Arthur – tenor
The Archbishop of
Running time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Merlin was intended as part of a trilogy, to include Lancelot (currently under research) and Guenevere (no music extant). Although the plot is based on the legend of King Arthur, Merlin really tells the story of the great wizard and his slave Nivian (Nimue); their relationship is reminiscent of the connection between Prospero and Caliban in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Nivian’s basic hunger for freedom leads to the downfall of Merlin and, ultimately, Camelot.
ACT I
A long, lyrical prelude opens Act I. An off-stage chorus establishes a mystical, expectant atmosphere (“Veni, Redemptor, gentium”), and Merlin anticipates the crowning of a new king (“Hail, mystic morn”), setting the sword Excalibur in a stone bearing the inscription, “Who from this anvil draws the brand is right wise king of all this land.” Merlin’s Saracen slave Nivian (often known as Nimue) pleads with her master for liberty (“Merlin, master!”), but he refuses, insisting that she and her sister nymphs bring him more gold from the mines of the gnomes. After a pensive interlude, the nymphs leave, and Merlin welcomes a group of knights and the Archbishop of Canterbury as they gather to crown the next king; with much discussion among the knights, first Gawain, then Mordred attempt to pull the magical sword Excalibur from its stone (“Now shall I lightly take it”), but neither succeeds. Sir Ector, Kay, and Arthur enter on their way to a tourney; Arthur has forgotten his sword, and decides to take Excalibur as a convenient substitute, easily drawing it from the stone. Mordred’s mother, the sorceress Morgan le Fay, vows to seize power for her son (“Fools! By Merlin mastered!”), but Act I ends with the crowning of the reluctant Arthur.
ACT II
Albeniz left the roles of Guenevere and Lancelot silent throughout Merlin, but in the world premiere production, while they neither sing nor speak, instead using dance and body language, we often see Guenevere whisper to Arthur, influencing his decisions with a glance or a caress.
With a brief prelude, Act II opens with Arthur mourning his war-torn kingdom (“Wounded with ravage”). Merlin warns Arthur against Guenevere, but the king is infatuated and deaf to Merlin’s arguments. Arthur’s knights enter, exhausted from fighting, bringing Morgan le Fay, Mordred, and their lieutenant Sir Pellinore as conquered prisoners. Despite Gawain’s fury over the battle death of his father, King Lot, and over the pleas of his knights and the advice of Merlin, Arthur is persuaded by Guenevere to free and pardon his enemies. He knights Gawain, swearing him to loyalty (“This I vow for Jesus’s sake”). Mordred and Morgan le Fay plot their vengeance (“Bastard and lowly born boy!), starting with bringing about the ill-fated marriage of Arthur and Guenevere. Nivian, still enslaved by Merlin and guarded by demons, begs Morgan to help her escape Merlin’s power (“Hark, hark! Did he call?”). Together, they hatch a plan to trap Merlin with seduction, and Nivian answers Merlin’s summons.
ACT III
Act III opens with a long orchestral and off-stage chorus sequence (“In Maytime, merry Maytime”); lovers awaken in a forest and dance in celebration of May…when Merlin recalls Arthur to his duties as king, Morgan le Fay distracts Guenevere with the pleasure of Launcelot’s company. Later, Arthur returns to Guenevere’s arms, to Merlin’s dismay (“Herein to serve him duly were but a foolish thing”). The wizard summons Nivian, who joins her fellow slaves to seduce the gnomes into giving up their gold (“Hither, ye covetous elves!”). As a reward, she asks Merlin to allow her the use of his magical staff; he indulges her, but she cannot use its power (“See! it becomes in your hand nothing”). At last, Morgan le Fay helps Nivian control the magic (“Borne on the wings of the summering swallow!”), entombing Merlin alive and gaining freedom (“Free, free, free!”). Morgan celebrates her triumph by uniting Guenevere and Lancelot, sowing the seeds for the fall of King Arthur and Camelot (“Sucklings and babes are chosen”).
