The Jewel Box

The Jewel Box is a pasticcio opera constructed by Paul Griffiths out of various pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Its mostly English libretto by Paul Griffiths includes new translations of most of the Italian-language texts of the musical numbers. It was premiered by Opera North at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham,[1] on 19 February 1991. The conductor was Elgar Howarth, the director was Francisco Negrin and the designer was Anthony Baker.[2]

Background

Griffiths, realising that arias composed by Mozart for insertion in other composers' operas are seldom performed nowadays, worked up what he called "a jeu d'esprit" which also contained music from the composer's unfinished operas Lo sposo deluso and L'oca del Cairo and some of the arias which he had written for concert performances. This came to the attention of Nicholas Payne, General Director of Opera North, who scheduled its première for 1991, the year of the bicentenary of Mozart's death.[3]

Performance history

After the Nottingham premiere and subsequent performances in Opera North's territory of northern England, the opera was performed in the United States by Skylight Opera Theatre (1993), Wolf Trap Opera (1994), Chicago Opera Theater (1996), and New Jersey State Opera (1996). In England, it was revived by Bampton Classical Opera in 2006 for the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, with the orchestra conducted by Edward Gardner.[4]

Roles

Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 19 February 1991
Conductor: Elgar Howarth
ColombinasopranoMary Hegarty
Composermezzo-sopranoPamela Helen Stephen
SingersopranoJennifer Rhys-Davies
DottoretenorMark Curtis
PantalonebaritoneQuentin Hayes
PedrolinotenorBarry Banks
FatherbassStephen Richardson

Synopsis

Four characters from the commedia dell'arte (Dottore, Pantalone, Colombina and Pedrolino) open the opera with a quartet. There is no more music, so the Dottore summons the Composer, who, with the aid of a singer of tragic music and his own father, gradually works out how the opera should go. The opera ends with an epilogue sung by the Composer.[5]

Musical numbers

Act 1

Number Description First line Singer(s) Source Notes
1Overturefrom Lo sposo deluso, K.430Wind parts probably not by Mozart
2QuartetColombina, Pedrolino, Dottore, Pantalonefrom Lo sposo delusoWind parts probably not by Mozart
3Aria"You avow that you'll be faithful"Colombina"Voi avete un cor fedele", K.217possibly for insertion into Galuppi's Le nozze di Dorina
4Aria"Can no-one explain it?"Composer"Chi sà qual sia", K.582For insertion into Martín y Soler's Il burbero di buon cuore
5Aria"Ah, se in ciel, benigne stelle"SingerK.583possibly an entr'acte for C. P. E. Bach's "Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu"
6Aria"The goddess of fortune"Pedrolino"Si mostra la sorte", K.209probably for insertion into an opera buffa
7Arietta"A kiss on the fingers"Pantalone"Un bacio di mano", K.541for insertion into Anfossi's Le gelosie fortunate
8QuartetColombina, Pedrolino, Dottore, Pantalone"Mandina amabile", K.480for insertion into Francesco Bianchi's La villanella rapita
9Recitative and aria"This is the one I'm seeking"Father"Alcandro, lo confesso", K.512concert aria
10Aria"This young composer"Dottore"Clarice cara", K.256probably for insertion into Piccinni's L'astratto, ovvero Il giocator fortunato
11Aria"Souls of greatness and noble spirits"Composer"Alma grande e nobil cor", K.578for insertion into Cimarosa's I due baroni di Rocca Azzurra
12QuartetColombina, Pedrolino, Dottore, Pantalone"Dite almeno in che mancai", K.479for insertion as in no. 8 above

Act 2

Number Description First line Singer(s) Source Notes
13TrioColombina, Pantalone, Fatherfrom L'oca del Cairo, K.422scoring and completion possibly by Simon Mayr
14Aria"Take a look at Pantalone"Pantalone"Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo", K.584, removed from Così fan tutte
15Gigue"Eine kleine Gigue", K.574
16Aria"Do not ask, in all compassion"Pedrolino"Per pietà, non ricercate" K.420for insertion into Anfossi's Il curioso indiscreto
17Aria"No, che non sei capace"Singer"No, che non sei capace", K.419for insertion as in No. 16 above
18Aria"Onward? Still further?"Composer"Vado, ma dove", K.583for insertion as in No. 4 above
19Recitative and aria"Enough. It's over"Colombina"Basta! Vincesti", K.486aconcert aria
20TrioColombina, Pedrolino, Pantalonefrom Lo sposo deluso
21Aria"With due reverence and respect, sir"Dottore"Con ossequio, con rispetto", K.210probably for insertion as in No. 10 above
22Two andantesa sketch for mechanical organ, K.615a, and a reprise from No. 1 abovethe first andante was adapted for orchestra by Elgar Howarth
23Aria"By what this hand's creating"Father"Per questa bello mano", K.612concert aria with double-bass obbligato
24Aria"Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio!"SingerK.418for insertion as in No. 16 above
25German DanceK.571, no. 6
26Epilogue"Now take my thanks"Composer"Nehmt meinen Dank", K.383concert aria

References

  1. Paul Griffiths: words and music
  2. Leeks, Stuart, ed. (2003). Opera North @ 25. Leeds: Opera North.
  3. "These the gems of Heav'n", essay by Griffiths on Bampton Classical Opera's website
  4. Dunnett, Roderic (23 September 2002). "Waiting for Figaro: St John's, Smith Square, London". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 31 March 2020..
  5. This synopsis and the following list of musical numbers are based on information in the programme for two preview performances which took place on 7 and 11 January 1991, at the Grand Theatre, Leeds.
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