Perth Beauty (opera)

Although the composer completed the work on the opera by the end of 1866, the dress rehearsal took place only in September 1867, and the premiere took place three months later. On November 3, 1890, the opera was resumed on the stage and withstood eleven performances.

"Perth beauty" was set in 1868 in Brussels and 1885 in Geneva. The opera was staged in other languages: German in Weimar and Vienna in 1883 and English in Manchester and London in 1917.

In 1968 she was staged at the Wexford Festival, in 1988 at the Festival Theater Imperial in Compiègne and in 2006 at the festival in Buxton. The opera was recorded on the BBC in Manchester by Georges Bizet’s centenary in 1975.

Place and time of action - Perth XIV century.

Act I

Workers in the workshop of the blacksmith Henry Smith sing on the eve of the holiday. Only Henry Smith wonders if the flirtatious Catherine Glover, the “Perthian beauty”, agrees to become his “valentine,” that is, his wife. Mab, the Gypsy Queen, runs in to the workshop. She asks to shelter her from the pursuing nobles from the retinue of the Duke of Rotsey, the ruler of Perth. Suddenly, Catherine Glover appears at the forge, accompanied by his father, Simon Glover and his pupil Ralph. Mab is hiding in the next room. Catherine rejoices in the winter. The men who came with her leave, leaving the girl alone with the groom. The blacksmith even before Valentine's Day transmits a gilded rose to his beloved, forged by him. Suddenly, a stranger appears in the smithy and demands that the owner sharpen the blade of his sword. While the smith is busy with work, the stranger is flirting with his bride. Enraged by jealousy, Henry Smith rushes at the customer with a hammer, but he is stopped by the escaped Mab. She says that the stranger is the Duke of Rothesay. The appearance of Mab causes jealousy in Catherine. The girl throws the rose presented by her fiance, which the gypsy quietly raises.

Act II

Square in Perth. Late in the evening, Simon Glover chases away the revelers who gather under Katherine’s window. A dancing Mab appears. The Duke of Rothesay sent her for the "Perth beauty" for which he made a feast in his palace. Gypsy was the Duke's mistress before he became interested in Catherine. She pretends to agree, but swears revenge on the inconstant lover. Henry Smith appears and sings the serenade under the window of the beloved, but in vain. At midnight, drunk Ralph comes to the house, saddened by his loneliness. The duke’s butler asks him where Katherine Glover lives. Under the guise of the last appears disguised Mab, who sits in the ducal stretcher and carry it away. Ralph takes Mab for Catherine and hurries to tell the blacksmith about everything. Meanwhile, the real Catherine opens the window to answer her lover, but he is no longer there.

Act III

Night feast in the palace of the Duke of Rotsea. The Duke brags to his friends about his last love victory. A lady appears in a mask, who agrees to take it off just before him alone. Left alone, Mab avoids Rotsey, but he manages to snatch a gilded rose from her bodice. Tormented by jealousy, Henry Smith secretly sneaks into the hall in the palace of the duke. Morning comes, and Rothsey prepares to receive his subjects. Glover Simon, along with Catherine, comes to the feudal lord for permission to marry his daughter with a blacksmith. Seeing Katherine, Rothesay is surprised. After all, he had just left the girl in his chambers. The duke guesses that he was deceived by his former mistress. Suddenly, Henry Smith appears and accuses Catherine of infidelity. The girl defends his honor, and he begins to doubt, when he suddenly notices his gilded rose on the duke. The blacksmith again accuses the bride of betrayal, and this time no one can convince him of the opposite. He runs away. Catherine is shocked.

Act IV

Dejected by what happened, Henry Smith is sitting on a tree in a deserted place. Today, on Valentine's Day, she and Catherine were supposed to get married. Ralph and some artisans try to convince him of Catherine’s innocence. To protect the honor of the girl, Ralph challenges Henry. Katherine appears, and the blacksmith admits that she will allow herself to be killed for the honor of her lover.

Meanwhile, on the main square in Perth, Mab appears with news for Catherine that the duke intervened and did not allow the duel between Henry and Ralph. Simon tells the gypsy that his daughter is crazy. Katherine appears and absently sings a ballad. Repenting of deception, Mab confesses to him as a blacksmith. Happy blacksmith hurries to her lover. His voice returns her sanity. Henry and Catherine are together again, and everyone is preparing for a happy Valentine's Day.

An orchestral suite of fragments of the opera, entitled “The Bohemian Scenes”, was published separately. She often performed at concerts and recorded in studios. Fragments: “Prelude” (Act I), “Serenade” (“ Viens, ma belle, je t'attends ”, Act II), “March” (“ Bon citoyens ”, Act II) and “Bohemian Dances” (divertissement, Act II).

• September 19, 1943 (radio broadcast). NBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Arturo Toscanini.
• 5-6 June 1949. , , Trefor Jones, , Lorelai Deer, , , BBC Theater Chorus, Chorus Master John Clements. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Thomas Beecham .
• 1985 , Alfredo Kraus , Gino Cilico , Jose van Dame , Chœurs de Radio-France. Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique. Conductor: Georges Pretre.

• Georges Bizet. "La jolie fille de Perth" (English)