The Maid of Artois

Overview

The opera opened on 27 May 1836, starring Maria Malibran as the title character, Isoline. The story concerns a girl in love, who is poached by a rich Marquis. The lovers seem destined to end their days in the wastes of the desert, until an unexpected rescue comes. The opera received good notices, and the overture was much admired.

Balfe's music shows the influence of his earlier training in Italy, especially of Bellini and Donizetti, as well as the French works that Balfe had sung (as a baritone) at the Paris Opéra, where he and Malibran had appeared together. Balfe wrote The Maid of Artois partly as a vehicle for her. Malibran was a mezzo-soprano with a three octave range. She had died in September 1836 before the score was printed, and so Balfe decided to set brighter, higher versions of the coloratura and other music in her role that are more typical of operatic treatments of a youthful character such as Isoline.

Roles

Isoline contralto

Jules tenor

Marquis baritone

Synnelet bass

Coralie

Sans Regret

Martin

Centinnel

Count Saulnier

Musical numbers

Act 1

The grounds of a Parisian Chateau

1 Men – Drink, boys

2 Marquis – Recit. The Rosy hours

2a Marquis, Sans R, Chorus – Cavatina Then silly is the heart

3 Andante

4 Jules – Recit. Oh, if at times

4a Jules – Cavatina My soul, in one unbroken

5 Sans R & Jules – Here, take the contents

6 Coralie, Jules, Sans R, Men – Then thus oppress’d

7 Women – The sigh from her heart

8 Isoline – Recit. My thoughts which forth

Isoline – The heart that once hath

Isoline, Women – Oh could I but that peace

9 Isoline, Marquis – Oh! leave me not

9a Isoline, Marquis – Oh, why should I weep

10 Isoline – Yon moon o’er the mountains

11 Jules, Isoline, – Finale: What sounds are those I hear

11a Isoline, Jules, Marquis – Finale: Trio My bosom with hope

12 Marquis, Isoline, Jules – Finale: Ensemble Deceitful woman

Sans Regret, Chorus, Count

Act 2

A fort in British Guiana

13 Men, Women and slaves – Here’s to the Soldier Lover

14 Synnelet, Chorus – Was there ever known

15 Ballet

16 Isoline – Oh! what a charm it is

17 Isoline, Jules, Nin, Syn, Chor Quartet & Ch – From shore to shore

18 Indian Dance

19 Isoline & Jules – And do these arms

19a Jules, Isoline – I have strength to bear

19b Martin, Isol, Jules, Nin, Syn Ensemble – Five minutes are expired

20 Chorus, Syn, Cent, Martin – Finale These joyous sounds upon the ear

21 Marquis – Recit. I gaze upon the stranger land

21a Marquis – The light of the other days is faded

22 Chorus, Marquis, Synnelet – Finale Hail to the Chief

Act 3

In the Desert

23 Isoline – Recit. The sounds which have pursued

23a Isoline – Oh, beautiful night

24 Isoline, Jules – There’s blood upon his arm

25 March

26 Isoline, Chorus – Finale: The rapture swelling though my breast