Overture to "Mignon"
Ambroise Thomas (comp. John R. Bourgeois)
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General Info
Year: 1866 /
Duration: c. 5:35
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: U.S. Marine Band
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Instrumentation
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Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Mignon was produced at the Opéra Comique in Paris on November 17, 1866, with Galli-Marié (creator of the Carmen role nine years later) playing the title role. It was an instant as well as a long-run success. Over 500 performances were given in the first 13 years. At the age of 84 Thomas was awarded the Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur on the occasion of the 1000th performance.
The opera opens with a short pastoral movement, leading directly into the melody "Connais tu le pays? – Do You Know the Land?," referring to Mignon's description of her long-lost country. The other principal motif is from the air "Je suis Titania – Y Am Titania." sung by Mignon's rival, Philine. The work concludes with the spirited Polacca, a colorful dance at the end of Art II.
The libretto by Michele Carré and Jules Barbier is based on an episode from Goethe's Wilhelm Meister; several of Goethe's poems are set as arias. The plot has to do with the adventures of Wilhelm, a young man wandering in search of knowledge, and Mignon, a girl stolen by Gypsies from her home in Italy. Following a troupe of actors from place to place, Wilhelm and Mignon meet with many adventures until, at the happy end, Mignon is reunited with her father and assured of Wilhelm's true love.
- Program Note from Program Notes for Band
Media
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State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
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- United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) - 8 January 2017
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Blue Lake and Rocky Shore (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
- Feller from Fortune (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
- All Around the Circle
- And Love is No More
- Blue Lake and Rocky Shore
- Blue Lake and Rocky Shore (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
- Feller from Fortune (2013)
- Feller from Fortune (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
- Glory and Honour
- Hush
- The Spree at Kelligrews (2017)
- Thin Places (2013)
Resources
- Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 588.