Lycksalighetens ö

Lycksalighetens ö (The Isle of Bliss) is a four-act opera by Hilding Rosenberg; the libretto by the composer, is based on the 1823 play of the same name by Per Daniel Amadeus Atterbom.[1]

Atterbom's work – his most extensive piece of writing – is based on a fairy tale of Madame d'Aulnoy which Atterbom follows closely, but added his own layer of allegory on enjoying bliss for its own sake. Poetry which only touches the senses, cannot satisfy nobler souls yearning for eternal life and happiness (such as Astolf).

Written during the Second World War, it was first performed at the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm on 1 February 1945 and was revived several times in the following years. In 2002 Norrlands Opera presented a production of a slightly abridged version of the score in Umeå conducted by Kristjan Järvi, of which recorded performances were issued by Musica Sveciae.[2]

Roles
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 1 February 1945[3]
(Conductor: Herbert Sandberg)
Felicia, Queen of the Isle of Bliss soprano Brita Herzberg
Zephyr, the West Wind soprano Hjördis Schymberg
Astolf, King of the Hyperboreans tenor Einar Beyron
Anemotis, Mother of the Winds contralto Margit Sehlmark
Nyx, Star Mother alto Gertrud Pålson-Wettergren
Time baritone Georg Svedenbrant
The genius of youth soprano Ruth Moberg
Peribanou, Queen of the Fairies mezzo-soprano Britta Ewert
Young Florio tenor Arne Ohlson
Old Florio baritone Folke Jonsson
A huntsman baritone
The nightingale soprano Florence Widgren
Nymphs female voices
Mopsus tenor Simon Edwardsen
A guide tenor
Priest bass
Chorus: Hunters, villagers, sprites, nymphs, lamplighters.

Synopsis

The first and fourth acts are set in the Land of the Hyperboreans; the second and third acts on the Isle of Bliss.

In a cold forest, Astolf, king of the Hyperboreans loses his way while out hunting, and his courtiers accuse the bard Florio of leading him astray with tales of warmer lands. Astolf finds himself in the Cave of the Winds where he encounters Anemotis. As the winds return home to their mother, Zephyr, the West Wind sings about the Isle of Bliss. Astolf is entranced and asks Zephyr to carry him there in a cloak of invisibility.

At the Isle of Bliss nymphs take their breakfast at the Fountain of Youth. Astolf meets Felicia, their queen. Over-hearing a discussion about a threat to Bliss from a neighbouring kingdom, Astolf reveals himself and offers his help. Felicia and Astolf fall in love and wed, and they drink from the Fountain of Youth.

Sometime later, after several nightmares, one of which has Time reminding him of his royal responsibilities, Felicia calms Astolf and he goes back to sleep. When he asks how long he has been on the island, she tells him three centuries. She prevents him leaving by making a nightingale sing to him. Nyx chides Felicia for preventing Astolf from going back to his kingdom. She says farewell and a winged horse takes him back to the Hyperboreans.

Back in Hyperborea it is autumn; Astolf meets a descendant of Florio who sings a ballad about Astolf held prisoner by a witch. He next stands by his own tomb in the cathedral and his guide, spotting the resemblance flees in terror. Coming upon a feast Astolf sees that the land has sunk into decadence. As Astolf vows to return to Bliss, Zephyr arrives to lead Astolf away to the idyllic isle. When Astolf helps an old man at the wayside Time as Death takes the desperate Astolf. Astolf's horse Pegasus flies off to the isle while he lies alone.

References
  1. Lyne Peter H. Rosenberg, Hilding (Constantin). In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London & New York, 1997.
  2. Sofia Nyblom. Notes accompanying Musica Sveciae PSCD 722 (1–2), 2002.
  3. Ord och Bild – Femtiofjarde argangen – 1945. A. B. Wahlström & Widstrand, Stockholm, 1945. p326-327.
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