''Miss Julie'' is an English-language

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

in two acts, with music and libretto by

William Alwyn William Alwyn (born William Alwyn Smith; 7 November 1905 – 11 September 1985), was a prolific English composer, Conducting, conductor, and music teacher who composed over 200 cinematic scores, of which some 70 were for full-length features, ...

. His second and final opera, premiered in 1977 as a radio broadcast, Alwyn based his opera on the 1888 play ''

Miss Julie ''Miss Julie'' () is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg. It is set on Midsummer's Eve and the following morning, which is Midsummer and the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist. The setting is an estate of a count in Sweden. ...

'' by Swedish playwright

August Strindberg Johan August Strindberg (; ; 22 January 184914 May 1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist, and painter.Lane (1998), 1040. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg wrote more than 60 pla ...

Performance history

The opera received its premiere as a

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

broadcast on 16 July 1977, from a studio recording made on 17 February 1977 in Brent Town Hall. Its first stage production was in 1992 at the Ballerup Theatre in Copenhagen, by Opera-Fabrikken. The first UK production was at the Norwich Triennial Festival in October 1997. The

BBC Symphony Orchestra The BBC Symphony Orchestra (BBC SO) is a British orchestra based in London. Founded in 1930, it was the first permanent salaried orchestra in London, and is the only one of the city's five major symphony orchestras not to be self-governing. The ...

performed the opera in a semi-staged concert performance at the Barbican Centre in October 2019.

Roles

Synopsis

The action is set on an estate of a Swedish count, during ''

Midsommarafton Midsummer is a celebration of the season of summer, taking place on or near the date of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere; the longest day of the year. The name "midsummer" mainly refers to summer solstice festivals of European or ...

'' (Midsummer's Eve).

Act I

Scene 1: The Count's staff and servants are celebrating Midsummer at a dance in a nearby barn. The Count is at his sister's residence and has left his daughter, Miss Julie, in charge of the house. Kristin, the cook and Jean's implicit fiancee, waits for Jean to take her to the dance. Meanwhile, she stirs on the stove a potion for Miss Julie's lap-dog, who is on heat, meant to keep other dogs away. Jean returns to the kitchen from the barn and has danced with Miss Julie, whom he found with Ulrik, the gamekeeper. Jean and Kristin state that Miss Julie has become 'utterly crazy' since her mother's suicide. Jean brazenly opens a stolen bottle of the Count's wine, then starts to tease Kristin's affections. Miss Julie interrupts them, nominally asking about the potion but hoping to lure Jean back to the barn. Miss Juie tells Kristin to go and change for the dance. She then sings to Jean about Midsummer Night and persuades him not to wait for Kristin. Scene 2: Jean and Miss Julie return from the barn, after midnight. She alternately taunts him about his peasant background and provokes him. When he eventually kisses her, she is shocked and slaps him, but remains. Miffed, he starts to polish the Count's boots, but she orders him to stop, and they embrace. Ulrik approaches the kitchen, drunk and singing an innuendo-laden song about them. Jean has just enough time to hide Miss Julie in his bedroom before Ulrik arrives, who demands his own fun with her. Ulrik indicates that everyone knows of, and mocks, Miss Julie's infatuation with Jean. Ulrik then leaves. Miss Julie emerges angry, ashamed, and terrified of her father's reaction. She says that she has no option but to run away, and Jean sees an opportunity to fulfill his long-desired plan of opening a hotel in Lugano. They must leave by daybreak, before the Count returns. Meanwhile, they can spend the night together.

Act II

At dawn, Jean emerges from his bedroom. Miss Julie already regrets the assignation, but feels compelled to go along with Jean's plan, which, she now realises, depends on her stealing money from her father. She obeys and goes upstairs. Kristin enters and sees two glasses on the table. Jean says that he was drinking with Ulrik, but Kristin disbelieves him, and says that she will avoid scandal by giving notice, after which she and Jean will get married, which sentiment Jean dismisses. Ulrik returns to apologise for his earlier actions, but soon quarrels with Jean. Miss Julie returns, dressed for travel, with a suitcase and her dog. Jean grabs, and orders Ulrik to dispose of, the dog. Offstage, a gunshot is heard. Miss Julie collapses. Jean and Kristin hurl accusations at each other. The ringing of the kitchen bell announces the return of the Count. Miss Julie watches as Jean begins to put on his uniform. He then dismisses the idea of the hotel in Lugano as a dream on Midsummer Night. Distraught, Miss Julie asks what to do next. Jean suggests her mother's way. The bell rings again. Jean pushes Miss Julie aside before climbing the stairs. Miss Julie picks up his razor from the table, then walks steadily and slowly out into the park.

Recording

Lyrita made the first commercial recording of the opera over the period of 23–26 January 1979, at Kingsway Hall, with Vilem Tausky conducting the

Philharmonia Orchestra The Philharmonia Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, a classical music record producer for EMI Classics, EMI. Among the conductors who worked with the orchestra in its early years were Rich ...

. The cast consisted of the following singers: * Jill Gomez (Miss Julie) * Benjamin Luxon (Jean) * Della Jones (Kristin) * John Mitchinson (Ulrik) The second recording of the opera appeared in July 2020 on Chandos (CHAN 5253), a studio recording with

Sakari Oramo Sakari Markus Oramo, (born 26 October 1965) is a Finnish conductor. He is chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Biography and career Born in Helsinki, Oramo is the son of two music academics who taught at the Sibelius Academy, Ilk ...

conducting the

and the following singers, who also sang in the October 2019 Barbican performance: * Anna Patalong (Miss Julie) * Benedict Nelson (Jean) * Rosie Aldridge (Kristin) * Samuel Sakker (Ulrik)

References

{{Authority control 1977 operas Operas based on works by August Strindberg English-language operas Operas Operas by William Alwyn Operas based on plays Operas set in Sweden Works based on Miss Julie