| Marketing Copy | Hamlet was written by French composer Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896) in 1868, two years after the completion of his other well-known opera, Mignon. Michel Carré and Jules Barbier based their libretto on the French adaptation of Shakespeare's play by Alexandre Dumas, père, and there are significant plot departures made from the original to satisfy the French dramatic sensibilities of the time, including having Hamlet survive and be crowned king at the end. That the adaptation happened at all was driven by an obsession in Paris for the character Ophelia that began in 1827, and as such, her character, called Ophélie in the French, features more heavily in the opera. Arguably Ophélie most well-known part of the opera is the "Mad Scene" (Act 4) where, unable to account for Hamlet's rejection of her, her mind breaks, and she eventually drowns herself in the lake among the reeds. The scene and aria here includes: Recitative - A vos jeux, mes amis permettez-moi de grâce de prendre part! / "My friends, please allow me to join in your games!"; Andante - Un doux serment nous lie / "A tender promise binds us to each other"; Waltz - Partegez-vous mes fleurs / "Share my flowers"; Ballade - Et maintenant écoutez ma chanson. Pâle et blonde, dort sous l'eau profonde / "And now listen to my song. Pale and fair, sleeping under the deep water." This publication includes a full score in the original French, but both a French and an Italian/English piano conductor score are also available separately. Italian/English piano conductor score. Instrumentation: 2.2(1st dEH).1.2: 4.2.3.0: Timp.Perc(2): Str (4-4-3-3-3 in set). |
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