''Jag går i kloster'' (''I enter a monastery'') is a two-act operetta by

Franz Berwald Franz Adolf Berwald (23 July 1796 – 3 April 1868) was a Swedish Romantic composer. He made his living as an orthopedist and later as the manager of a saw mill and glass factory, and became more appreciated as a composer after his death than ...

, to a libretto by the composer and

Herman Sätherberg Karl or Carl Herman Sätherberg (May 19, 1812 in Botkyrka socken – January 9, 1897 in Stockholm) was a Swedish poet and (orthopedic) physician. Sätherberg became a medical doctor in 1843 and travelled with the corvette ''Karlskrona'' to the M ...

.Layton R, Van Boer BH. Franz Berwald. In: ''

The New Grove Dictionary of Opera ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'' is an encyclopedia of opera, considered to be one of the best general reference sources on the subject. It is the largest work on opera in English, and in its printed form, amounts to 5,448 pages in four volu ...

.'' Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.

Background

A farce, ''Rendez-vous, or the ridiculous rivals'' (''Rendez-vouet, eller De löjliga rivalerna'') was seen in Stockholm in May 1822; the rivals being a dandy, a doctor and a poet. Berwald’s libretto, which he wrote himself, changes the professions but is hampered by the plot’s lack of dramatic interest. The narrative offers only the chance for a number of attractive solos and ensembles.Andersson, Ingvar. ''Franz Berwald'' (Svenska Akademiens Minnesteckningar). PA Norstedt & Söners Förlag, Stockholm, 1970, p128-131. Andersson detects in Berwald’s score a classical touch reminiscent of

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

, d'Alayrac and Méhul.

Performance history

Composition was begun during a six-month stay in

Nyköping Nyköping () is a locality and the seat of Nyköping Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 32,759 inhabitants as of 2017. The city is also the capital of Södermanland County. Including Arnö, the locality on the southern shore of the ...

in 1842, and although excerpts were played at a concert at the Stora Börssalen (Great Hall of the Exchange), Stockholm in December 1842, the operetta was first performed complete at the

Royal Swedish Opera Royal Swedish Opera ( sv, Kungliga Operan) is an opera and ballet company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Location and environment The building is located in the center of Sweden's capital Stockholm in the borough of Norrmalm, on the eastern s ...

, Stockholm on 2 December 1843 on the same evening as Berwald’s Sinfonie sérieuse, and had five performances in that run.

Jenny Lind Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and a ...

sang the main role in the first performances, and the cast also included the bass Fredrik Kinmanson and the tenor Olof Strandberg, but has had very few performances since. The opera was recorded by Swedish Radio in 1961 with a cast consisting of Stina-Britta Melander (soprano), Erik Saedén (bass-baritone), Erik Sundquist (baritone), Arne Andersson (tenor), Paul Höglund (bass) and the Radioorkestern (

Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra ( sv, Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester) is a Swedish radio orchestra based in Stockholm, affiliated with Sveriges Radio (Sweden's Radio). Its principal performing venue is the Berwaldhallen (Berwald Hall). The ...

) and Radiokören (Swedish Radio choir) conducted by Stig Rybrant. This was re-broadcast in 2012. The overture was recorded by the Royal Stockholm Opera orchestra, conducted by Stig Westerberg in the 1980s. A full score was published in 2007 as volume 19 of a complete Berwald edition from BärenreiterBärenreiter, ''Jag går i kloster'' / ''I'll Enter a Convent'', accessed 9 February 2013.
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Synopsis

The first scene is set in the park of the greedy fortune-seeking lawyer Clermont (bass), guardian of the beautiful Julie (soprano). A handsome officer, Sansdoute (baritone), a childhood friend of the heroine, and his valet (bass) jump over the wall into the grounds to find Julie. The greedy Clermont comes out of the house grasping Julie's arm as if it was made of gold. The young heiress Julie may inherit her father’s estate on condition that she marries when she comes of age, but if not she will have to enter a convent. Soon another suitor enters, the mediocre poet, Charles (tenor), a comic figure. The object of the three men's ardour, Julie picks a flower and finds a note from Sansdoute. In a duet Julie spurns Charles. The second act takes place in front of the convent's gate and nuns can be heard singing their evening song. The men enter. Sansdoute is disguised as a monk and discourages Julie from her path by pointing out how stupid it would be for her to enter a convent. He wins her over, and the two other men must be content with the outcome - Clermont prepares the marriage contract with favourable financial terms and Charles creates an ode for the ceremony.

Notes and references

Notes Citations {{DEFAULTSORT:I enter a monastery Swedish-language operas Operas 1842 operas Operas by Franz Berwald