Summary Ferenc Erkel. Bank-ban
BANK-BAN
Opera in three acts (seven scenes) 1
Libretto by B. Egreshi
Characters:
Endre II, Hungarian King Gertrude, Queen Otto, son of the Meranese Duke, younger brother Gertrude Bank-bank2, the royal governor in Hungary Melinda, his wife Shoma, their little son Petur-ban Governor of the county (oblast) Bihar Biberach, the wandering knight Tiborz, peasant | Bass Soprano Tenor Tenor Soprano Without speeches Baritone Baritone Baritone |
Hungarian and German knights, rebels, court ladies, fishermen.
The action takes place in Hungary at the end of 1213.
HISTORY OF CREATION
The libretto by B. Egreši (1813-1851) – an actor, composer and writer, one
The difficult situation in which the opera was created was affected by the interpretation of the plot. Erkel had to muffle the social acuteness of the drama of Catona: he was forced to abandon the show of socially most acute, rebellious episodes. In the center of the opera was the spiritual drama of the main characters; it is characteristic that he introduced a new picture – the death of Melinda – and she became one of the best in the opera. On the other hand, the composer abandoned the enlightened denouement of the drama: instead of forgiving the King of the Bank, who had remorse at the sight of the grieving noble ruler, Erkel put in the mouth of his hero a proud challenge to the king; The bank dies, broken by grief, but not submissive.
MUSIC
“Bank-Ban” is a romantic drama, where the tragic destinies of heroes are intertwined with historical events. A sharp, dynamic plot, great passions, strong characters bring her closer to the operas of Verdi. Expressive, vividly national melodies of the opera are closely connected with Hungarian city folklore; Strengthening the national color is facilitated by the introduction of the folk instrument – cymbals – into the orchestra.
The orchestral entry draws the image of Melinda’s tender and melancholy.
The first act is filled with contrasts. The carefree music of the ball is replaced by the dismal meditation of Petour and the disgruntled Hungarians. In the center of this scene is the groaning Petour (in the words of M. Vereshmarty, the greatest poet of the 19th century), “If you give the heart to a woman, my friend.” Behind her follows a graceful, dance-like chorus of courtiers, glorifying the queen. A new contrast is the duo of the Bank and Petoura; an angry arioso of the Bank “How dare you rebel to threaten us” are answered Petour’s mocking remarks; the duet ends with a heroic melody – the voices merge in a single impulse of vengeance. The big dance scene is confronted by a mournful ensemble with a choir, where melody of Melinda dominates, “O Bank, why did we leave the nest with you.” Then there are lyrical scenes. Otto’s ardent speeches are replaced by Melinda’s enlightened memories and her proud and angry rebuff “Knees did not bow to Ban-ban.” The Bank’s aria begins with a stern, gloomy recitative that leads to the melodic melody “Melinda, You were always for me,” warmed by a deep, sincere feeling; then follows the turbulent second part of the aria. Return to the initial mood of the act (the court chorus) is interrupted by Melinda. Her appeal to the queen “Ah, how I enjoyed it here” is full of bitterness and hidden anger. From it grows a large ensemble with a chorus in which all present, predicament-bound woes unite. warmed by a deep, sincere feeling; then follows the turbulent second part of the aria. Return to the initial mood of the act (the court chorus) is interrupted by Melinda. Her appeal to the queen “Ah, how I enjoyed it here” is full of bitterness and hidden anger. From it grows a large ensemble with a chorus in which all present, embittered by anticipation of woes unite. warmed by a deep, sincere feeling; then follows the turbulent second part of the aria. Return to the initial mood of the act (the court chorus) is interrupted by Melinda. Her appeal to the queen “Ah, how I enjoyed it here” is full of bitterness and hidden anger. From it grows a large ensemble with a chorus in which all present, predicament-bound woes unite.
The first picture of the second act contains the central characteristic of the Bank – a heroic aria about the homeland; this aria is widely popular in Hungary. In the beginning, in the great dialogue scene of the Bank and Tibort, moods of sorrow prevail; The dramatic story of Tiborz about the calamities of the people is then replaced by a duet of a strong-willed heroic warehouse. Melinda’s lyrical aria “O my husband, kill me you” is rich in wide melodious melodies, impressive beauty and depth of feeling.
The dialogical scene of the Bank and the Queen is the second picture. The central section of the duo “As a thief stole at night to you, is it fair?” reflects the collision of two strong, strong-willed natures. The lyrical mournful story of the Bank “I Seen I Had a Beautiful Village in Hungary” leads to a swift, angry conclusion.
The first picture of the third act is devoted to the tragic fate of Melinda. The entry draws a picture of a slowly flowing Tissa, the flutes of two shepherds sound. This picture is supplemented by the repetition of a short chorus of fishermen warning of danger. The great aria of Melinda is included in the development of the dramatic scene. In the orchestra, gusts of an impending storm are transmitted, they are resisted by the sadly quiet songs of the insane Melinda: “There were two birds” and a lullaby “Sleep, my little son.”
The brief last picture opens with the aria of the king with the choir “The terrible thing is the blind anger”; its initial theme in the spirit of the funeral march is replaced by a lighter and warmer melody. The final scene is based on the Bank’s separate snap phrases, at first proud and brave, then (after the mournful play of two flutes that sounded in the scene on the bank of the Tissa) – full of despair and, finally, lyrically enlightened. The funeral chorus of the choir finishes the opera.
1 Often in the staging of the first act is not divided into paintings, then the opera consists of five paintings.
2 Ban title: governor, governor, governor.
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