Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Marcel Landowski
Le Fou (Le) (1867)
- Choudens (World)
- 1+pic.1.1+bcl+asx.1/2.2.1btbn.1/timp.perc/pf.cel.OM/str( 8.6.5.4.4)
- SATB
- 2S, Mz,T, 2Bar, 2 speakers
- Libretto by the composer based on extracts of Une somme de poésie de Patrice de la Tour du Pin
- French
Programme Note
Cast List:
Peter Bell et son reflet (le Fou) - baritone
Isadora, his wife - mezzo
The prince - baritone
Artus - tenor
Le Feu /The Fire - soprano
Soprano solo
Three inner voices - male voices
Two numbers - female voices
La Cornue / The Horned - male
Un gros livre / A big book
Une femme / A woman
1er homme/ Man 1
2ème homme / Man 2
Deux rôles parlés / Two speaking roles
Synopsis
The inhabitants of a besieged city suffer from war. Among them, the scholar Peter Bell experiences an inner drama: he has the secret of an ultimate weapon which can rescue his fellow citizens, but he is convinced that this weapon carries the germ to destruct humanity.
His wife Isadora tells the Prince of Peter’s discovery of and of his refusal to use it in the name of his duty towards mankind; sent for by the Prince, Bell confides him his concerns and the reasons for his refusal.
Act II begins with the evocation of a procession of miseries caused by deprivation: an old man swapping favours of a girl for a piece of ham (represented by two pre-recorded voices which resemble two young people discussing the television programme at a party), a drinker abandoning alcohol (is it the best moment?), a father running after his child to snatch a rat from him (the same remark: not easy to choose his chain!).
Isadora accepts the order of the Prince and tries to convince Peter, thus betraying his love. Then it is in Artus's turn to call upon Peter's enormous responsibilities.
Left alone in his laboratory, Peter is invaded by tempting dreams but still refuses.
In evocating of his past love, Isadora seems to manage to convince him, but Peter gains upper hand over his double he symbolically destroys and also all traces of his research.
In the last act, Bell is tortured by Artus while the people shout their hatred, but nothing can reach Peter immured in his thoughts. It is shot as a traitor.
Peter Bell et son reflet (le Fou) - baritone
Isadora, his wife - mezzo
The prince - baritone
Artus - tenor
Le Feu /The Fire - soprano
Soprano solo
Three inner voices - male voices
Two numbers - female voices
La Cornue / The Horned - male
Un gros livre / A big book
Une femme / A woman
1er homme/ Man 1
2ème homme / Man 2
Deux rôles parlés / Two speaking roles
Synopsis
The inhabitants of a besieged city suffer from war. Among them, the scholar Peter Bell experiences an inner drama: he has the secret of an ultimate weapon which can rescue his fellow citizens, but he is convinced that this weapon carries the germ to destruct humanity.
His wife Isadora tells the Prince of Peter’s discovery of and of his refusal to use it in the name of his duty towards mankind; sent for by the Prince, Bell confides him his concerns and the reasons for his refusal.
Act II begins with the evocation of a procession of miseries caused by deprivation: an old man swapping favours of a girl for a piece of ham (represented by two pre-recorded voices which resemble two young people discussing the television programme at a party), a drinker abandoning alcohol (is it the best moment?), a father running after his child to snatch a rat from him (the same remark: not easy to choose his chain!).
Isadora accepts the order of the Prince and tries to convince Peter, thus betraying his love. Then it is in Artus's turn to call upon Peter's enormous responsibilities.
Left alone in his laboratory, Peter is invaded by tempting dreams but still refuses.
In evocating of his past love, Isadora seems to manage to convince him, but Peter gains upper hand over his double he symbolically destroys and also all traces of his research.
In the last act, Bell is tortured by Artus while the people shout their hatred, but nothing can reach Peter immured in his thoughts. It is shot as a traitor.