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This intriguing one act opera tells the
true, but tragic love story of two young people
caught up in the horror of the 17th Century
'plague village' of Eyam (pronounced 'Eem')
in Derbyshire.
It is 1665, and is the time in the year of
the Eyam Summer Wakes, a happy festive time.
Visitors are welcomed by the villagers who
themselves eagerly await the forthcoming pleasures.
Two of the village girls, Emmott and Ruth,
have further cause for rejoicing - they are
betrothed and plan to look at material bought
from London from which they will make their
wedding dresses. Herein are the seeds of tragedy,
but, for the moment, joy prevails with a folk
song and dance by the four principals - Rowland
and Emmott, Steb and Ruth.
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month later, the village is broken by bubonic
plague, carried from London in the bales of
cloth for Emmott and Ruth. There is talk of
fleeing the village, to escape the ravages
of the plague, but apart from the imperious
Mrs Bradshaw, the Squire's lady, all decide
to stay. The prayer of the chorus - urgent
and beseeching - emphasises the mood.
The last meeting of Rowland and Emmott is
the emotional heart of the work. It personalises
the conflict between the hysteria which clamours
for deliverance through flight, and the desperate
dedication to duty which requires acceptance
and denial.
Marshall Howe is introduced to us as another
grim aspect of devotion to duty. He is a villager
who has lost both his wife and his only child,
and now takes the role of village undertaker.
A task which earns him no gratitude however
because he takes, as pay for his labour in
burying the dead, anything he desires from
their now empty homes.
As often happens in a crisis, a figure emerges
to buck up the spirits. In a moment of light
relief, Steb Mortin with Ruth at his side,
cheer up the village children with some simple
words and gestures. When they leave, Steb
re-states his undting love for Ruth.
Emmott and her mother hold a conversation
after Emmott returns home from a meeting in
Cucklet Delph, a small hamlet close-by. Mrs
Sydall, who with her puritanical nature disapproved
of the activities during the Summer Wakes,
is now a broken woman. Having lost her husban
and all her children, she clings desperately
to her remaining daughter. In a long, accompanied
recitative, Emmott describes to her Mother
a meeting at which the Rector eloquently pleaded
for everyone to remain in the village so that
the plague might be contained.
Some time later, as the church bells ring
out to declare the village free from pestilence,
Rowland hurries through the village asking
for Emmott. No words are needed in answer.
A cottage door opens and Mrs Sydall appears,
holding a traditional Derbyshire funeral garland
- a ring of white roses with a pair of white
paper gloves attached.
The opera ends in the style of 'Dido and Aeneas'
- with a lament over a ground bass, and the
chorus chanting words of St Paul, which takes
us beyond the grief of the moment, to the
hope of eternal joy and peace. |
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| Principals |
| Emmott Sydall
- a young girl (Soprano) |
| Ruth Hadfield
- serving maid at The Rectory (Mezzo)
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| Rowland Torre
- A miller's son from Stony Middleton (Baritone) |
| Steb Mortin
- the local Carrier (Light
Tenor) |
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| Support |
| Mrs Sydall - Emmott's mother (Contralto) |
| Mrs Bradshaw - The Squire's widow (Mezzo) |
| Marshall Howe - the village Sexton (Bass)
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| Chorus of villagers. (Some small singing
parts are provided for chorus members - 'Joan',
'Boy', 'Grace', Alice' and 'Elizabeth'). |
| Two or three non-singing children for Scene
5. |
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| (Click
on a title to hear a Windows Media clip) |
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| The Overture |
Orchestra |
| Scene 1) Eyam Summer Wake |
Mrs Sydall, Emmott, Ruth, Rowland &
Steb & Chorus |
| Scene 2) An Eyam Street |
Mrs Bradshaw, Ruth & Chorus |
| Scene 3) The Cucklet Delph |
Emmott and Rowland |
| Scene 4) An Eyam Street |
Marshall Howe & Chorus |
| Scene 5) An Eyam Street |
Steb, Ruth & Children |
| Scene 6) The Sydall House |
Emmott & Mrs Sydall |
| Scene 7) An Eyam Street |
Rowland & Chorus |
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| Duration |
: 45 mins |
| Acts |
: 1 |
| Characters |
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| Principals |
: 2m, 2f |
| Support |
: 1m, 2f |
| Sets |
: 4 |
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| Other Light Opera |
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