Bernard Herrmann Opera Wuthering Heights
Plot Synopsis and Character Description of English Drama
Dec 29, 2008
Bernard Herrmann (June 29, 1911 – December 24, 1975) composed Wuthering Heights, a four-act English tragic drama based on the novel by Emily Brontë of the same title. Libretto was written by Lucille Fletcher. The setting is in Northern England in 1840.
This opera adaptation was only premiered in its full-stage version at Portland, Oregon, Portland Opera, on November 6, 1982, although Hermann wrote it in 1951, and in 1966 it was performed in a concert version in London.
Herrmann's 4-act opera is an adaptation of the classic novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronté. It is presented in a flashback after the prologue. For those who are familiar with the novel, the libretto comes from the first half of the story. For whatever structure the composer has built his opera upon, the book's poignant and heartbreaking end is still captured.
Composer Carlisle Floyd produced another opera adaptation in 1958.
Cast of Characters
- Nelly Dean, Maid at Wuthering Heights (mezzo or contralto)
- Heathcliff, An orphan brought by Mr. Earnshaw to live at Wuthering Heights, loves Cathy (baritone)
- Catherine/Cathy Earnshaw, Daughter of Mr. Earnshaw, loves Heathcliff (soprano)
- Hindley Earnshaw, Catherine's brother (baritone)
- Edgar Linton, of Thrushcross Grange, becomes Cathy's husband (tenor)
- Isabella Linton, Edgar's sister, becomes Healthcliff's wife (mezzo)
- Mr. Lockwood, Healthcliff's tenant (baritone)
- Joseph, Elderly servant at Wuthering Heights (bass)
Plot Synopses
Prologue
A small upper bedroom at Wuthering Heights.
There is a snowstorm. Mr Lockwood, Heathcliff's tenant, has been stranded at Wuthering Heights. The helper, Nelly Dean, lets him in a guest room where he has a nightmare about Catherine Earnshaw. Heathcliff bursts in. Hearing Lockwood's dream, Heathcliff runs out into the snow in search of Cathy.
Act I
The main hall at Wuthering Heights 20 years earlier
Scene 1. Cathy and Heathcliff delight wondering about freely in the moors. Heathcliff was an orphan taken in as a child by Cathy's father, Mr Earnshaw, but Cathy's brother, Hindley, hates Heathcliff. Hindley is now master. He asks Joseph to read a prayer, but Joseph falls asleep; Cathy and Heathcliff slip out onto the moor.
Scene 2. Cathy has spent five weeks at Thrushcross Grange with the Lintons. Nelly tries to persuade Heathcliff to clean himself up for her return. Heathcliff doesn't like Edgar.
Act II
The same scene as Act I
Heathcliff objects to the time Cathy spends with Edgar. When Edgar comes, Cathy has a tantrum, pinches Nelly and slaps Edgar. Later, Edgar and Cathy make up. Hindley has gone into drinking habit. Drunk, he attack his son Hareton and Nelly.
Cathy confesses to Nelly that she has agreed to marry Edgar, although she really loves Heathcliff. On hearing this, Heathcliff is furious and runs away.
Act III
The drawing room at Thrushcross Grange three years later
Three years later, Heathcliff pays a call on Cathy and her husband Edgar. Isabella, Edgar's sister falls in love with Heathcliff. Out on revenge and to punish Cathy, Heathcliff allows Isabella to love him. Cathy is taken ill.
Act IV
The main hall at Wuthering Heights the following March
Isabella is married to Heathcliff, but has made her life miserable at Wuthering Heights. Hindley is in debt to Heathcliff and plans to kill him but fails. Cathy dies in Heathcliff's arms, Hearing Cathy's voice, Heathcliff rushes out onto the moors.
Source:
Martin, Nicholas Ivor. The Da Capo Opera Manual. New York: Da Capo Press, 1997
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