The Maid of Artois is an opera by Michael William Balfe, written in 1836 to a libretto by Alfred Bunn, manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, who based his work on Eugène Scribe's stage version of Abbé Prévost's novel Manon Lescaut.
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.
Isoline contralto
Jules tenor
Marquis baritone
Synnelet bass
Coralie
Sans Regret
Martin
Centinnel
Count Saulnier
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