Franz Liszt - Reminiscences de Robert le Diable (1841), with scenes from the Opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer (1831)
- 4 years ago
Recognized by most musicologists as the greatest pianist in history, Franz Liszt was among several prominent composers who attended the premier performance in 1831 of the spectacular opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer, Robert le Diable. So impressed and inspired by the work, he set about creating a masterpiece of his own based on music from several of the scenes, said by some to be the most difficult piano composition ever written to play to perfection.
"Reminiscences de Robert le Diable" is comprised largely of variations of music from three scenes. The first is the "Valse Infernale," a spotlight vocal performance for the character of Bertram, a knight who has befriended Sir Robert, Duke of Normandy, and who himself is literally the son of the Devil. Unknown to Robert, Bertram is also his father. In "Valse Infernale" we see Bertram rising high above Hell, invoking the spirits of the dead, unseen far below. Variations of another scene from Act III is entitled the "Ballet of the Nuns" ("Air de ballet"). Bertram enters a great Tomb and invokes the spirits of dead nuns who in life had been unfaithful to their vows, wantonly given over to unholy thrills, bringing them alive for the purpose of seducing Robert to the dark side and to a shared damnation with Bertram. The third variation is the "Marziale tempo guisto" from Act II queued for the entrance of Robert and his knights for a Tournament to win the hand of Isabelle, Princess of Sicily who announces the games.
It should be remembered that these are instrumental variations of three themes from the opera and not the OPERA itself. Thus it was a daunting challenge to put together a video using the three scenes to conform to the variations. "Valse Infernale" is not even a dance, but a vocal. We witness no waltzing of devils. Only the "ballet of the nuns" provides actual danse. The ballet scenes are most generous. The "Marziale tempo guisto" is also more than accommodating. The outcome is something a bit unusual and a project well worth the effort at least.
"Reminiscences de Robert le Diable" is comprised largely of variations of music from three scenes. The first is the "Valse Infernale," a spotlight vocal performance for the character of Bertram, a knight who has befriended Sir Robert, Duke of Normandy, and who himself is literally the son of the Devil. Unknown to Robert, Bertram is also his father. In "Valse Infernale" we see Bertram rising high above Hell, invoking the spirits of the dead, unseen far below. Variations of another scene from Act III is entitled the "Ballet of the Nuns" ("Air de ballet"). Bertram enters a great Tomb and invokes the spirits of dead nuns who in life had been unfaithful to their vows, wantonly given over to unholy thrills, bringing them alive for the purpose of seducing Robert to the dark side and to a shared damnation with Bertram. The third variation is the "Marziale tempo guisto" from Act II queued for the entrance of Robert and his knights for a Tournament to win the hand of Isabelle, Princess of Sicily who announces the games.
It should be remembered that these are instrumental variations of three themes from the opera and not the OPERA itself. Thus it was a daunting challenge to put together a video using the three scenes to conform to the variations. "Valse Infernale" is not even a dance, but a vocal. We witness no waltzing of devils. Only the "ballet of the nuns" provides actual danse. The ballet scenes are most generous. The "Marziale tempo guisto" is also more than accommodating. The outcome is something a bit unusual and a project well worth the effort at least.