Talk:Hulda (opera)

Premiere cast (complete), 15 March 1994[edit]

This article was intitially set up already containing the sentence

"The first complete performance of the opera was by Reading University Opera in 1979 Hennerson (talk) 15:17, 10 November 2012 (UTC) with a later perfomance at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London on 15 March 1994, by University College Opera"[reply]

but this is not referenced. Presumably this information may have come from

"Drummond D. From Programme Book for University College London 1994 production".

Later the cast list for this performance was added, but omitting the conductor. I have now added an empty slot for the conductor at the top of the cast list, but have no access to any information for filling this in. The article University College Opera lists some productions, with conductors noted, but not Hulda. Apparently the opera has never been recorded; it is not listed at either ArkivMusic or Operadis.

It would seem that the first mention of the 1994 performance ought to be referenced, as well as the cast list - at present, neither of these are. Milkunderwood (talk) 00:47, 18 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

reductions for two pianos, four hands[edit]

According to CD Koch Schwann 3-1377 [1] (Daniel Blumenthal & Jacob Bogaart, pianos), Franck transcribed several sections of Hulda for two pianos, including:

Entr'acte pastoral (3e acte), for piano duet (7'33")
Chanson de l'hermine, for two pianos (4'11")
Marche Royale, for two pianos (4'57")
Ballet du Printemps, for two pianos (21'54"), including
- Index 1: Ballet du Printemps (3'56")
- Index 2: Allegretto (7'23")
- Index 3: Pas des Ondines (6'33")
- Index 4: Ronde (4'02")

I also note that List of compositions by César Franck does not mention any duo piano works, including these two on this same Koch Schwann disc:

Premier Duo à quatre mains sur "God save the King", Op. 4 (1842) (14'51")
Deuxième Duo à quatre mains sur "Lucille" de Grétry, Op. 17 (1846) (9'08")

I have no additional source of information other than this one CD. Milkunderwood (talk) 01:11, 18 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

FWIW, the booklet notes say

"In 1879 he turned his attention to composing ... Hulda ... The score continued to occupy him until 1885. ... It was partly with the practical aim of appealing more directly to his public to convince it of the worth of his opera that he transcribed its most significant symphonic passages into versions for two pianos. The success of these transcriptions, notably at the Société nationale de musique in 1884, consoled Franck for the disappointment he suffered when, despite his approaches, no theatre director would take up the work. It was finally premiered in 1895 [sic] at the Monte Carlo theatre, after his death ..."

Milkunderwood (talk) 01:31, 18 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]