佳佳唱片

艾爾文:歌劇(茱莉小姐)
安娜.帕塔隆 女高音
班乃迪克.尼爾森 男中音
薩卡利．歐拉莫 指揮
BBC交響樂團

'Why has this intense, brilliantly orchestrated, claustrophobically gripping masterpiece been so neglected since its 1977 premiere?' asked Richard Morrison in The Times of the concert performance in the Barbican that preceded this recording. Miss Julie is Alwyn's last large-scale work, written in 1973- 76. Alwyn set his own libretto, based on Strindberg's 1888 play of that title. The naturalistic drama and lifelike characters of that play appealed to Alwyn from an early age – in fact, he previously attempted to compose an opera on Miss Julie in the 1950s. That attempt failed, because of differences with his then librettist, Christopher Hassall. Alwyn believed that in opera, the action should be self-explanatory, arias should serve a dramatic purpose (as opposed to sheer vocal display), characters should sing to each other and not to the audience, ensembles should be minimised and the text should be set to vocal lines that reflect natural speech patterns. These views were distilled over his extensive career as a film composer, which taught him that music could do more than establish characterisation, suggest mood, and heighten atmosphere: in some cases it could also communicate the unspoken thoughts of an onscreen character even when these were at odds with what he or she was presenting visually. Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra support an outstanding cast featuring Anna Patalong in the title role in this acclaimed revival of Alwyn's neglected masterpiece. Recorded in Surround Sound and available on Hybrid SACD.

CD1
WILLIAM ALWYN
Miss Julie (1973 -76)
An Opera in Two Acts
Based on the Play by August Stringberg (1849-1912)
Acte I
Scene 1: 25:40
1.[Orchestral Introduction.] Allegro. Valse Tempo -1:04
2.Jean: 'Miss Julie is crazy' -1:36
3.Kristin: 'But the Count...' -4:41
4.Jean: 'By God, I'm thirsty!' -3:18
5.Miss Julie: 'Kristin, Kristin, Kristin!' -2:28
6.Jean: 'Well, I've travelled around' -4:28
7.Miss Julie: 'There's a new dance starting' -2:01
8.Miss Julie: 'You know why I came here tonight?' -1:48
9.Miss Julie: 'Midsummer Night, O, night of magic' -3:38
10.Kristin: 'I'm ready, Jean!'0:34
Scene 2: 35:14
11.[Orchestral Introduction.] Andante sostenuto (Poco adagio) -2:32
12.Jean: 'Kristin, Kristin...' -3:45
13.Miss Julie: 'Now you can kiss my hand' -2:33
14.Jean: 'That wouldn't do, either' -3:51
15.Jean: 'I have no time for dreams' -2:02
16.Miss Julie: 'Would you like me to dance' -0:52
17.Jean: 'Playing with fire' -1:57
18.Jean: 'You don't know what it is to be poor' -1:42
19.Miss Julie: 'But you can rise, Jean' -1:55
20.Ulrik: '"A lady went a-roaming..."' -3:00
21.Ulrik: 'She's the queen of the dance' -1:52
22.Jean: 'You can come out now' -1:51
23.Jean: 'I know, I know...' -4:02
24.Jean: 'I can't, not while we're still in this house'3:15
Total time: 60:45
CD2
 Act II
1.[Orchestral Introdution.] Lento - Allegro non troppo -2:37
2.Jean: 'Never again!' -3:32
3.Jean: 'Now don't lose your head' -3:34
4.Miss Julie: 'Scum on the surface of water' -3:20
5.Miss Julie: 'If you want me again' -4:06
6.Jean: If I only had enough money...' -2:35
7.Miss Julie: 'You sound so cruel, Jean' -1:36
8.[Orchestral Interlude.] Allegro precipitoso - Poco meno mosso, ma sempre allegro -0:59
9.Kristin: 'Has she gone?' -0:47
10.Kristin: 'Whatever you say, I know you were here with the mistress' -1:38
11.Kristin: 'Class is class, and don't you forget it' -1:22
12.Kristin: 'We'll get married' -1:02
13.Ulrik: 'A pretty domestic scene!' -1:05
14.Kristin: 'I knew I was right!' -1:40
15.Kristin: 'There's someone upstairs' -1:45
16.Miss Julie: 'I'm ready now, Jean' -2:07
17.Jean: 'What the devil is that?' -1:51
18.Miss Julie: 'He's killed her, killed her!' -2:33
19.Kristin: 'You're man! You're both mad!' -4:55
20.Kristin: 'Well, well!' So you're going to elope!' -1:15
21.Jean: 'The Count's back!' -1:09
22.Jean: 'You can go, but I can't -3:56
23.Miss Julie: ' must be dreaming' -2:30
24.Miss Julie: 'Kiss me...before I go!'1:58
Total time: 53:52
Anna Patalong soprano - Miss Julie
Benedict Nelson bass-baritone - Jean, the Count's valet
SRosie Aldridge mazzo-soprano - Kristin, the cook
Samuel Sakker tenor - Ulrik, the gamekeeper
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo