Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Judith Weir
Blond Eckbert (1993)
- Chester Music Ltd (World)
Commissioned by English National Opera with funds from the Arts Council
- S,Mz,T,Bar + SATB; 2(II:pic).2(II:ca).2(II:bcl).2(II:cbn)/4.3.2+btbn.0/timp.perc/hp/str
- SATB
- Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, Baritone
- 1 hr 15 min
- The Composer, after Ludwig Tieck
- English
Programme Note
Eckbert and his wife Berthe live in seclusion in the Harz Mountains. One stormy night, Eckbert’s friend Walther arrives and, to while away the time, Berthe tells him her life story. Walther mysteriously knows a great deal about Berthe' s early life and Eckbert’s suspicions grow, eventually leading him to murder Walther during a hunting expedition. Consumed by terror and suspicion, Eckbert retreats into seclusion and revisits the fairy-tale scenes of Berthe's childhood, accompanied by a magical singing bird. He encounters the old woman who raised Berthe, and at last learns the terrible truth about Walther, Berthe, and himself.
© Judith Weir
Media
Blond Eckbert
Scores
Preview the score
Reviews
...of the quality of Weir's score there can be no doubt... as with Janacek, you feel there isn't a single note that doesn't need to be there... so concise, so infinitely complex... a highly accomplished, beautiful and absorbing new opera.
'Blond Eckbert' is dramatically riveting, not a minute too long, and you come away haunted by the plot and - here's a thing - snatches of tune. In short, the Coliseum has found itself an accessible modern classic... Judith Weir deserves global recognition.
I urge anyone interested in theatre, never mind opera, to make a bee-line to the Coliseum... beautiful to look at, fascinating to listen to, it makes the average musical look overblown, frowsy and trite.
...the music is continuously melodic... outstandingly graphic and expressive... ENO commissions have at last struck gold.
Discography
Blond Eckbert
- LabelNMC
- Catalogue NumberNMC D106
- ConductorSiân Edwards
- EnsembleChorus and Orchestra of English National Opera
- SoloistNicholas Folwell (baritone), Anne-Marie Owens (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Ventris (baritone), Nerys Jones (soprano)
- Released7th November 2005
- LabelCollins Classics
- Catalogue NumberCD14612
- ConductorSiân Edwards
- EnsembleEnglish National Opera
More Info
- Judith Weir at Aldeburgh Festival
- 6th June 2024
- Aldeburgh Festival 2024 opens with a new production of Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert.
- Judith Weir to be Featured Musician at Aldeburgh Festival 2024
- 19th December 2023
- Judith Weir will be a Featured Artist at the 2024 Aldeburgh Festival with the performance of over a dozen of her works, including the world premieres of String Quartet No. 2 'The Spaniard' and Planet.
