Composer

:

Frederick Delius

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Prelude

Compose Date

:

1931

Average_duration

:

5:08

Irmelin, RT vi/27 is an opera composed by Frederick Delius. The opera was composed between 1890 and 1892, and it premiered on 3 April 1953 at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. The libretto was written by Delius himself, and it is based on a medieval Swedish ballad. The opera is divided into three movements. The first movement is set in a forest in Sweden, where Irmelin, a young girl, is gathering flowers. She meets a young man, Vind, and they fall in love. However, Irmelin's father, a wealthy merchant, disapproves of their relationship and forbids them from seeing each other. The second movement takes place several years later. Vind has become a successful merchant, and Irmelin has become a famous singer. They meet again, and their love is rekindled. However, Irmelin's father still disapproves of their relationship, and he arranges for Irmelin to marry a wealthy nobleman. The third movement takes place on the day of Irmelin's wedding. Vind interrupts the ceremony and declares his love for Irmelin. Irmelin's father is outraged and orders Vind to be arrested. However, Irmelin convinces her father to let Vind go, and they are reunited. The music of Irmelin is characterized by Delius's use of impressionistic harmonies and orchestration. The opera features lush, sweeping melodies and richly textured orchestration. The vocal writing is lyrical and expressive, with a focus on the beauty of the human voice. Overall, Irmelin is a romantic and lyrical opera that showcases Delius's unique musical style. Its premiere in 1953 was a significant event in the revival of Delius's music, which had fallen out of favor in the years following his death in 1934. Today, Irmelin remains a beloved work in the operatic repertoire.

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