Miss Julie (Alwyn opera)

Miss Julie is a British opera in two acts by William Alwyn with a libretto by the composer. His second and final opera, premiered in 1977 as a radio broadcast, Alwyn based his opera on the 1888 play Miss Julie by Swedish playwright August Strindberg.

Not to be confused with Miss Julie (Rorem opera), the 1965 opera by Ned Rorem, or Julie (opera), the 2005 opera by Philippe Boesmans.

Performance history

The opera received its premiere as a BBC Radio 3 broadcast on 16 July 1977, from a studio recording made on 17 February 1977 in Brent Town Hall. Its first stage production was in 1992 at the Ballerup Theatre in Copenhagen, by Opera-Fabrikken. The first UK production was at the Norwich Triennial Festival in October 1997.[1] The BBC Symphony Orchestra performed the opera in a semi-staged concert performance at the Barbican Centre in October 2019.[2]

Roles
Role Voice type Premiere performance
BBC broadcast, 16 July 1977		 Stage premiere
Ballerup Theater, Opera-Fabrikken
26 October 1992		 UK stage premiere
Theatre Royal, Norwich
15 October 1997
Miss JuliesopranoJill GomezSusanne RaberJudith Howarth
Jean, manservant of the Count, Miss Julie's fatherbaritoneBenjamin LuxonJørn PedersenKarl Raymond
Kristin, the cookmezzo-sopranoDella JonesAnnette Lindjerg SimonsenFiona Kimm
Ulrik, the gamekeepertenorAnthony Rolfe JohnsonOle VadstenIan Caley
OrchestraBBC Concert OrchestraLyngby-Taarbaek Symphony OrchestraBritten Sinfonia
ConductorVilem TauskyFrans RasmussenNicholas Cleobury

Synopsis

The action is set on an estate of a Swedish count, during Midsommarafton (Midsummer's Eve). The count's daughter, Miss Julie, is attracted to her father's valet, Jean, in spite of the differences in their social stations. Jean is nominally involved romantically with the estate's cook, Kristin. The sexual tension between Miss Julie and Jean builds to the point where they consummate their relationship one evening. Miss Julie has dreams of her and Jean escaping from the estate to live their lives together, but the differences between their social classes are too much to overcome. At one point, Ulrik, the gamekeeper, shoots Miss Julie's dog. Jean eventually turns harshly on Miss Julie, to the point where he tells her to slit her wrists, as her mother had committed suicide prior. The opera ends as Miss Julie leaves the scene, presumably to take her own life.

Recording

Lyrita made the first commercial recording of the opera over the period of 23-26 January 1979, at Kingsway Hall, with Vilem Tausky conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra.[3][4][5][6][7] The cast consisted of the following singers:

  • Jill Gomez (Miss Julie)
  • Benjamin Luxon (Jean
  • Della Jones (Kristin)
  • John Mitchinson (Ulrik)

References
  1. Dressler, John C., William Alwyn: A Research and Information Guide. Routledge (New York and London), ISBN 978-0-415-88605-5, pp 170-171.
  2. Andrew Clements (4 October 2019). "Miss Julie review – Sakari Oramo's revival brims with colour and verve". The Guardian. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  3. Colin Clarke (April 2004). "Review - William Alwyn - Miss Julie". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  4. David Hurwitz. "Review - William Alwyn - Miss Julie". Classics Today. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  5. Miss Julie, opera in two acts (CD liner). William Alwyn. Lyrita. 1992. SRCD.2218.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. Rickards, Guy (June 1993). Tempo (New Ser.), 185: pp. 47-48.
  7. Raymond Ericson (23 September 1984). "Neglected British Operas Are Heard". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
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