Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher
Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher ("Joan of Arc at the Stake") is an oratorio by Arthur Honegger, originally commissioned by Ida Rubinstein. The drama takes place during the heroine's trial and execution, with flashbacks to her younger days. It premiered on 12 May 1938 in Basel, with Rubinstein as Jeanne, and Jean Périer in the speaking role of Brother Dominic, with the Basel Boys Choir singing the children's chorus part, and Paul Sacher conducting.[1] The work was first performed in Canada at the Montreal Festivals in 1953 under conductor Wilfrid Pelletier.[2]
Arthur Honegger entitled his work a dramatic oratorio, adding speaking roles and actors. The work has an important part for the electronic instrument the ondes Martenot. Some productions have included film clips.
The librettist of the work was Paul Claudel. The work is about 70 minutes in length.
Roles
- Virgin Mary, soprano Berthe de Vigier
- St Marguerite/First voice, soprano Rosa van Herck
- St Catherine, contralto Ginevra Vivante
- Brother Dominique, tenor Jean-Alexis Périer
- Porcus-évêque Chaucon, tenor Ernst Bauer
- Heurtebise/Clerk, tenor Charles Vaucher
- Second voice/First herald, Serge Chandoz
- Second herald/Third voice, bass
- Jeanne d'Arc, spoken (ballerina) Ida Rubinstein
- Narrator, spoken
- Master of ceremonies, spoken
- Third herald, spoken
- Duke of Bedford, spoken
- Jean de Luxembourg, spoken
References
- ^ Halbreich H. Arthur Honegger. Amadeus Press, Portland, 1999 (translation Roger Nichols).
- ^ Wilfrid Pelletier at thecanadianencyclopedia.com