Helvellyn is an opera in four acts by George Alexander Macfarren to an English libretto by John Oxenford from Salomon Mosenthal's play Der Sonnwendhof. It was first performed by the English Opera Company at the Covent Garden Theatre in London on 3 November 1864.Review of the premiere performance, in: The Musical World, 5 November 1864, pp. 706–707.
Performance history Finally after 165 years of absence from the theatrical scene, Macfarren's Helvellyn will return on the Royal Opera House for the season 2029/30.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 3 November 1864Conductor: Alfred MellonMabel, widow and heiress of a wealthy Statesman or landownersopranoEuphrosyne Parepa-RosaHannah, an orphansopranoHelen Lemmens-SherringtonLuke, the disinherited elder brother of the late statesmanbaritoneAlberto LawrenceOld Steenie, A very aged servant of the farmbassHenry CorriMartin, a foundling protected by MabeltenorHenry HaighChorus: Farm servants and dependants
Synopsis The opera is set in Mabel's farm on the eastern slopes of Helvellyn in the English Lake District, and in the nearby village. It is the beginning of the eighteenth century.
Act 1 In an unusual overture, farm workers and local inhabitants are heard in the distance singing a curse on evil and on the unknown person who started a devastating fire.
Steenie, a grumpy old farm-hand, looks out from the farm and grumbles as first milkmaids, them mowers, then sowers all arrive back at the farm earlier than he had expected – each group explains that their work is done and that the day is almost over and Steenie has to admit that their early return is not the result of idleness. The girls ask him to fill in the time before dinner by telling them a story, flattering him that he tells the best stories around. Steenie launches into a tale about the foundry being set on fire; Ralph a good but surly worker, had been unfairly chastised by the master and had sworn revenge. Not long after, the fire started, and although Ralph's wife pleaded with the master to rescue Ralph as the flames spread, he would not, and Ralph died in the fire. He finishes the tale by repeating the curse heard in the overture.
The farm owner, Mabel, a widow, arrives and reminds everyone that they must sleep well tonight because the harvest will continue tomorrow. She asks whether Martin has returned yet, and the workers tell her that it is typical of good-hearted Martin that he is always first out to work and last to return home. Right on cue, Martin arrives and sings a jolly song of blessing to honest labour, to the harvest and to the fruitful soil. Mabel greets Martin warmly, and he says that he cannot help but be cheerful when he is with the kind woman who took him in as an orphan. Mabel hushes him up, and then has a shiver of foreboding as she remembers Luke, her husband's brother, who had worked at the foundry ten years ago, but after the fire, he had disappeared under his father's curse and has not been seen since. Martin suggests that he might be dead by now, but Mabel replies that whenever she thinks about how well the farm is doing, she remembers Luke, and her happiness is spoiled. Martin tries to cheer her up by telling her that the dreariest of dawns can often bring in a good day.
Suddenly, Hannah comes down from Helvellyn; she explains that she is a weary orphan and asks for food and shelter for the night. Mabel and Martin greet her warmly, but Steenie grumbles that they don't know anything about her. Hannah is welcomed and everyone goes off into the barn for their evening meal, with Steenie grumbling that the new arrival must have cast a witch's spell over everyone, leaving Mabel to sit alone and contemplate the good life that she has and to thank heaven for her good fortune.
A voice is heard, and a man now descends from the hill. It is Luke, singing cheerfully of his life as a beggar in London – he announces that he has returned home to claim his rightful inheritance now that his brother, Mabel's husband, has died. Mabel is appalled; she tells him that he may stay the night, but Luke's intention is to stay much longer than that. The workers now emerge from the barn, their meal over, and old Steenie recognises Luke. Mabel whispers to Martin that her husband left her everything in his will, but that she must go to London to gather evidence against Luke's claim. She tells the farm workers that in her absence, Martin will be in charge, and she prepares to set off. Martin promises to make sure that everything is done properly while she is away, and Luke quietly expresses his determination to have the farm for himself. Steenie just grumbles that he should have been left in charge, but Mabel's parting words are that there should be no jealousy and that Martin has her full confidence.
Act 2 Nearly a month later. Luke is wondering whether his pretence of respectability is getting him anywhere and muses on the troubles which possessions bring – he only respects property when it is his own. He recalls the time that he dared to aspire to the hand of the master's daughter, and how the fire in the foundry ensued, and old Ralph got the blame. A child goes by, and he remembers how he saw a child in the light of the terrible fire; briefly, he wonders who the orphan girl might be. He shakes off his misgivings and reminds himself that he is an honest man now.
The child reappears, this time with Hannah, who sends her off with some milk for her sick mother. Luke slyly comments that it is easy to be generous with someone else's property, and is half inclined to send Hannah packing as soon as he is the master, except that she is too pretty to send away. He calls to her, but Hannah is reluctant to speak with him. He tells her that he loves her, and when Hannah says that she is deeply insulted, he tells her that he can woo gently as well as anyone else, and he demands a kiss. The farmhands are heard outside singing a harvest song, and Hannah uses the distraction to grab a reaping hook and threatens to use it on Luke is he continues to pursue her. Luke backs off, commenting as he goes that he would be a better friend than enemy for her.
The happy harvesters arrive hauling a laden handcart, on top of which is Martin (no Health and Safety had reached the remote slopes of Helvellyn yet). They are all pleased to have got the harvest in and Martin promises them a celebration feast. They wander off, leaving Martin and Hannah alone. Martin asks Hannah why she always seems to want to avoid him, but she denies this. He offers her a four-leafed clover that he has found and asks her to wear it for him. Hannah tells him to keep it and goes off back into the dairy: Martin rips the leaves up and throws them away.
The workers return with a huge supper. They begin to lay it out on the table. Singing how Autumn is the best of all the seasons. Martin's place is set at the head of the table and Steenie is seated at the other end. Martin tells everyone that their mistress would be happy to see them all so cheerful, but Steenie mutters about a younger man having pride of place and about every dog having his day. They all tell the old man to shut up and Martin proposes a toast to the absent Mabel's health. Luke has joined the group, and he announces that as their late master's brother, he should by rights be leading the harvest celebrations. He encourages everyone to drink well, repeats the toast to their mistress, and then turns down Martin's proposal that they should all dance, suggesting instead that he has a tale to relate. He tells them all that he saw Hannah giving milk away and Steenie seizes the opportunity to declare that he knew all along that she is no good and that they do not welcome thieves. Martin springs to Hannah's defence and Hannah herself explains who she gave the milk to. The workers are sympathetic, and when Hannah says that she is going to leave the farm at once, Martin says that it is Steenie who should leave because he has insulted her. Hannah insists on leaving and Steenie says that nothing will ever get rid of him.
As the workers comment that Steenie's constant unpleasantness always ruins their pleasures, Mabel returns and asks Martin to tell her what is going on. He explains that Steenie insulted Hannah and despite Hannah's protestations, Mabel agrees that Steenie should leave. Steenie is shocked, and Mabel goes on to tell Hannah that she too will be banished to live in a shepherd's hut on the high slopes of the mountain and tend the sheep there. They all contemplate the situation – a long-time workmate who has served the farm all his life has been dismissed; Martin observes that Steenie was beginning to act as if he owned the place. Hannah ruefully accepts her exile.
The workers all leave, and Martin is alone with Mabel. Martin says that the place will be dreary without Hannah, and asks how Mabel's mission has gone. She replies that she had obtained a copy of her husband's will leaving everything to her, and that she intends to give Luke a sum of money to help him to end his vagrant ways.
Luke himself now returns – rather drunk; he comments on the merits of the estate, and the strength of its beer. Luke tries to flatter Mabel, but when she tells him the contents of the will, he replies that the only will he acknowledges is the goodwill of the Fair. Mabel offers him the purse of money, and he not only refuses it rudely, saying that he will not give up his rights for a measly bag of coins, but actually proposes to marry Mabel so that he can become master of the estate. Mabel runs to Martin, telling Luke that the master of the farm is already there. Both Martin and Luke are shocked by this and Luke spits out his determination to be revenged. Mabel and Martin together are equally determined to live in peace, but they recognise the obvious danger that Luke represents. Luke repeats his threat, raises his fist and then, as he leaves, unseen by Mabel and Martin, he grabs the purse of money.
Mabel hints again at her intention to marry Martin to make him master of the estate, but Martin sings privately of his confusion: he realises that Mabel is in love with him, but he loves Hannah, and he decides that if Hannah will not return his love, then life will not be worth living.
Act 3 High on the slopes of Helvellyn, the estate girls lead Hannah to the hut which is to be her home: an elderly shepherd emerges from the hut and hands over charge of the flock to her. The girls tell Hannah, rather bizarrely, that she can have a tranquil life there, away from the world and its troubles, with only the tinkling of the sheep's bells to remind her when it is time to rest. As the girls leave, Hannah accepts all this, commenting that she seems to have lived all her life in a state of loneliness, and that here the peace of the mountain will enable her aching heart to rejoice. Martin arrives and comments that what Hannah replies now will seal his destiny. He tells her that Mabel has offered marriage to him, and with it, the ownership of the estate. Hannah says that this is a noble gesture, but Martin tells her that he has turned the offer down, and that Hannah is to blame. Hannah is upset, but Martin goes on to tell her that he cannot marry anybody else because it is her that he loves. Hannah sadly comments that all hope she has of rest is once again ruined by deceit. Martin waits for her response, but she tells him that there can be no comfort for her in this life and that she can never return his love. She reminds him of the blaze which destroyed the foundry and of Ralph, whom everyone blames for it; Martin curses Ralph, but is stopped in his tracks when Hannah tells him that she is Ralph's daughter, and that Martin must despise her for that. Martin protests that he will share anything with her, but she rushes into the hut and slams the door.