Lurline recording (2009)

The Recording

The first complete recording of Wallace's Lurline was made by Victorian Opera Northwest in June 2009 and released by Naxos (Naxos 8.660293-94) in June 2010. Andrew Clements in The Guardian wrote that it was "a real rarity that's a must at bargain price for anyone interested in 19th century opera". Clips from the recording can be found below. The recording used

Rodney Milnes in the October edition of Opera magazine was also very supportive, "The performance is very good", even though he found Fitzball's libretto rather overblown. Reviews from the MusicWeb International site can be found here and here.

The Naxos CD booklet contains essays on the background history of Lurline, Wallace the composer and singers’ biographies and a libretto of the opera is available from www.naxos.com/libretti/660293.htm. . In addition, Victorian Opera Northwest has made available the following items.

- A 40 page collectors’ CD booklet with illustrations and full libretto with track listing.

- A facsimile of the original Covent Garden 1860 production libretto.

- The vocal score with background notes.

Both these and the Naxos recording (2 CDs) may be purchased from Victorian Opera Northwest, see the sales page.

The cast of the recording

Recorded in June 2009.

Count Rupert (a young nobleman) .. .. .. ..

Wilhelm (his Friend) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

Rhineberg (the River King) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Baron Truenfels .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Zelieck (a Gnome) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

Lurline (Nymph of the Lurlei-Berg) .. .. ....

Ghiva (the Baron's Daughter) .. .. .. .. ...

Liba (a Spirit of the Rhine) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Chorus Master .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

Musical Director .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

Keith Lewis

Paul Ferris

David Soar

Donald Maxwell

Roderick Earle

Sally Silver

Fiona Janes

Bernadette Cullen

Philip Mackenzie

Richard Bonynge

Victorian Opera Northwest Orchestra and Chorus

Keith Lewis and Sally Silver with Richard Bonynge, singing their Act III duet, "Yes, I love thee"

Roderick Earle discussing with David Soar their balance in "Sail on, Sail on" (Act I)

Track and Number List

Clips from the recording are marked in bold below. The numbers on the left refer to the track and the numbers in brackets to the musical number in the score, a new edition of which was prepared by Richard Bonynge.

CD 1

Overture

ACT I

2 (1)

3 (1a)

4 (2)

5 (2a)

6 (3)

7 (3a)

8 (4)

9 (4a)

10 (5)

11 (5a)

12 (6)

13 (6a)

14 (7)

15 (8)

16 (9)

17 (10)

18 (11)

Rhineberg

Rhineberg, Zelieck

Chorus

Rhineberg, Liba, Lurline, Zelieck

Lurline, Liba, Rhineberg, etc.

Rhineberg, Lurline

Lurline

Rhineberg

Rhineberg, Zelieck, Lurline, etc.

Ghiva, chorus, Baron

Ghiva, Baron, chorus

Baron, Ghiva, Rupert

Baron, Rupert, Ghiva

Chorus, Guilhelm

Guilhelm, Rupert, chorus

Rupert, chorus

Lurline, Rupert, Rhineberg, etc

Introduction All is silent

Recit. Idle spirit

Chorus Hark, hark! the king advanceth

Recit. Where is Lurline?

Niaid's spell Flow on, oh, Silver Rhine

Recit. What does she say?

Romance The Night Winds

Recit. How can the slime of earth

Ensemble Sail! on the midnight Gale

Trio Bring the Mirror

Duet Rupert, haughty Rupert

Rect.& trio For me, for me

Trio I see the grey of sky

Chorus Drain the cup of pleasure

Recit.& chorus Here’s Count Rupert

Barcarolle Our Barque in the moonlight beaming

Finale When on yon rock

ACT II, Scene 1

19 (12)

20 (12a)

21 (12b)

22 (13)

23 (14)

24 (15)

25 (15a)

26 (16)

27 (17)

Chorus

Rhineberg, Lurline, Zelieck

Lurline, chorus

Rhineberg

Chorus, Lurline

Rupert, Lurline

Zelieck, Liba, Rupert, Lurline

Zelieck, Lurline, Rupert, chorus

Zelieck, chorus

Chorus Behold! behold bridges of gold

Recit. Ah, Lurline it proudly glads your father

Solo Under a spreading coral

Recit. T’is well he is at rest

Chorus and Dance From his Palace of Crystal

Recit. & Air Sweet form, that in my dreamy gaze

Rondo Take this cup

Recit. Open! Open!

Trio & Chorus My rage beware

Drinking Song As thro’ the glass

CD 2

ACT II, Scene 1

1 (17a)

2 (18)

3 (18a)

4 (19)

5 (20)

6 (20a)

7 (21)

8 (21a)

9 (22)

Ghiva

Baron, Ghiva

Chorus

Rhineberg

Rhineberg, Zelieck

Chorus, Rupert, Rhineberg

Lurline, Rupert

Lurline, Rhineberg, Liba, etc

Rhineberg, Rupert, chorus

Recit. Ah, me, how dismal is this castle

Ballad Gentle Troubadour

Recit. Ah, sweet daughter

Hunting Chorus Come away to the chase

Recit. & Ballad The Nectar Cup may yield delight

Recit. Suspicion tortures me

Chorus Ave Maria

Recit Dearest, I give thee

Finale Oh, Heavens! it is my father

Lurline! I yield me to thy will

ACT III

11 (23)

12 (23a)

13 (24)

14 (24a)

15 (25)

16 (25a)

17 (26)

18 (27)

19 (27a)

20 (28)

21 (29)

22 (30)

23 (31)

24 (32)

Baron, Ghiva

Rupert

Baron, Ghiva, Rupert

Rupert, Baron, Ghiva, Zelieck

Baron, Ghiva

Baron, Rupert, Ghiva, Zelieck

Lurline

Liba, Lurline, Rhineberg, Zeleick

Rhineberg, Lurline

Lurline, Liba, Rhineberg, Zelieck

Chorus

Rupert, Lurline

Ensemble

Introduction

Recit. Heavens, what a fearful storm

Recit. & Ballad My home, my heart’s first home

Recit. That voice, t’is Rupert’s

Chorus Gold and wine cure every care

Recit. We’ve made a slight mistake

Duet & Chorus Lady, let this arm sustain thee

Grand Scena Sad as my soul

Recit Oh! welcome gentle hope

Scena & Air Behold our Mistress

Solo Love, fatal passion

Quartet Though the world with transport bless

Chorus & Ballet Now with joy each bosom beating

Grand Duet Oh, Lurline! my Naiad Queen

Finale Oh, Rupert! in the forest we o’erheard

Oh! Lurline! sav’d by thee