Le Juif errant (The Wandering Jew) is a grand opera by Fromental Halévy, with a libretto by Eugène Scribe and Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges.
The opera is based extremely loosely on themes of the novel Le Juif errant, by Eugène Sue. Whilst the novel is set in 19th century Paris and the Wandering Jew is incidental to the main story-line, the opera begins in Amsterdam in 1190 and the Jew Ahasuerus (spelled AshvérusSue's spelling of the name was 'Ahasvérus', a version also used by Edgar Quinet. However, Scribe's version of the name can be found in earlier literature (e.g. in 1834) in the opera) is a leading character.
Performance history Le Juif errant was premiered at the Salle Le Peletier of the Paris Opera on 23 April 1852, and had 48 further performances over two seasons. The music was sufficiently popular to generate a Wandering Jew Mazurka, a Wandering Jew Waltz, a Wandering Jew Polka and in France just in the several months after the opera was premiered an even more considerable quantity of piano works, including several called "Grande fantaisie dramatique" and similar titles, based on the opera.
Roles
+RoleVoice typePremiere cast,Cast list based on , and , (and the index for full names). 23 April 1852Conductor: Narcisse GirardAshvérus, the Wandering Jew baritone Eugène Massol Nicéphore, Emperor of the Orient bass Louis-Henri Obin Léon, descendant of Ashvérus tenor Gustave-Hippolyte RogerThéodora, boatwoman of the Scheldt, sister of Léon mezzo-soprano Irène, daughter of Baudoin, Count of Flanders, also a descendant of Ashvérus soprano The libretto and , write this singer's name as Lagrua. , have an extensive article on her and give the name as Emma (Emmy, Emilia) La Grua, née Emmy Funk. Referred to in , as 'Lagrua' (see p. 879 for short note) and , as Emilie Carini (also Emmy la Grua). , gives the name Emmy La Grua. Lady of honor soprano Petit-Brière The exterminating angel tenor Chapuis Ludgers, bandit chief bass Depassio Manoel, first bandit bass Canaple Andronic, second bandit bass Guigneau, lists a baritone by the name of Guignot, who first appeared at the Paris Opera ca. 1848. Jean, third bandit bass Noir Arbas, fourth bandit bass Goyon Night watchman baritone Merly An officer of the palace baritone Lyon A lord baritone Molinier Another lord tenor Donzel Chorus: lords, ladies, and people of Antwerp; robbers and bad boys; shopkeepers, inhabitants of Brabant; lords and ladies of Emperor Nicéphore's court; people of Thessalonica; people of Constantinople; mutes, almées (harem entertainers), slaves; Emperor's guards; Empress Irène's lady; angel, demons, the chosen, the damned, etc.
References Notes
Sources
Further reading Jordan, Ruth (1994). Fromental Halévy: His Life & Music, 1799–1862. London: Kahn & Averill. . Macdonald, Hugh (2001). "Halévy, (Jacques-François-)Fromental(-Elie) [Fromentin(-Elias)]" in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition, edited by Stanley Sadie. London: Macmillan. (hardcover). (eBook). Scribe, Eugène (1858). Le Juif errant in Oeuvres complètes de M. Eugène Scribe, new edition, volume XVII, pp. 149–164. Paris: Adolphe Delahays. View at Google Books.
External links