Opera program - Pride & Prejudice

In a musical interpretation by Daniel Nelson with libretto by Sofia Fredén, the audience is invited on a musical journey into Jane Austen's romantic world with the opera "Pride and Prejudice." Enjoy the joy in the rhythmic music, the straightforward and witty lyrics, and the iconic tale of Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet and Mr. Darcy's winding path to marital happiness. This story, told since the early 19th century, continues to be narrated and interpreted even today.

 

Dear audience!


Pride. According to the Swedish Academy's dictionary: "the quality of being proud; especially formerly, also (transient in meaning): arrogance or haughtiness." In other words, a deadly sin. Prejudice. From the same source: "a judgment passed in advance (without due examination) or to the detriment of someone."

Two clusters of concepts with strongly negative connotations, yet in our contemporary society, they have been endowed with positive content – at least in practice. I won't delve into why, but I can observe that displaying one's own pride is no longer a taboo but almost a virtue. Prejudices have free rein in the echo chambers of social media, and the idea of determining a person's motives based on innate characteristics rather than through conversation and debate is daily exemplified.

The transformation that Miss Lizzy Bennet and Mr. Darcy undergo in Jane Austen's novel, as well as in Sofia Fredén's and Daniel Nelson's opéra comique, is a reverse movement. Initially, both acknowledge themselves as proud – even though they are annoyed that the other is just that: proud. Both have also judged the other "without due examination," to use the language of the Swedish Academy's dictionary. However, they are forced to humble themselves and reassess their ideas about each other to come together (both are unequivocally attracted to each other from their first meeting, even if they would never admit it). This transformation occurs only when they are forced to confront dark sides of themselves. They cannot reassess the other without first reassessing themselves.

Lizzy and Mr. Darcy do this with beautiful singing and humor, and we can either perceive them as representatives for us in the audience, sparing us from questioning our own pride and prejudices – or we see them as encouraging examples to dare to see less flattering sides of ourselves.

We get to choose.

/ Dan Turdén, humble and entirely unbiased opera chief at Norrlandsoperan

PLOT

Act I

 

Mrs. Bennet is convinced – one day things will work out for her daughters. Despite the fact that, upon Mr. Bennet's death, the family's home and livelihood cannot pass to a female heir, the Bennet family has only daughters. Their home is an entailed estate, and the distant cousin, also a clergyman, Mr. Collins, will inherit it, leaving the girls with nothing. The only salvation in sight is for the girls to marry men who can provide for them.

Reluctantly, Mr. Bennet takes his wife and three daughters – the eldest Jane, middle daughter Lizzy, and the youngest Lydia – to a local public ball. Charlotte, their best friend and already married, joins them. At the ball, they meet the wealthy Mr. Bingley, who has rented an estate nearby, accompanied by his best friend, Mr. Darcy. Attraction immediately sparks between Mr. Bingley and Jane, giving Mrs. Bennet hope for the family's future. However, the successful evening is marred by Mr. Darcy's presence, particularly for Lizzy, who constantly seems to be the target of his condescending manner and glances. Mr. Wickham, a local military officer, also arrives at the ball and makes a sensation, especially with Lydia. He confides in Lizzy about how the snobbish Mr. Darcy, whom Wickham has known since childhood, has deprived him of all opportunities for happiness and security in life. The ball ends abruptly when Mr. Darcy declares that he and Bingley will leave.

Shortly thereafter, back at the Bennet family home, Lydia is bored, waiting for something to happen. Jane, her mother, and sister Lizzy hope for a visit from Mr. Bingley to court Jane. Instead, Mr. Collins arrives. Mrs. Bennet is horrified, but her mood changes when Mr. Collins reveals his intention – to marry one of the daughters! He chooses Lizzy, who firmly declines. In the chaos, the likable Mr. Wickham appears, telling Lizzy how Mr. Darcy, whom Wickham has known since childhood, has unjustly left him destitute. When Mr. Darcy unexpectedly visits and wants to speak with Lizzy, his purpose remains unclear, and he hastily departs for London once again.

Quiet settles back at the Bennet family home when their friend Charlotte brings news. Rumors in town suggest that Mr. Bingley has been dissuaded by a friend from continuing his courtship of the girl he had his eyes on. Additionally, Mr. Wickham has met a wealthy woman. Charlotte also has news about herself – she has accepted Mr. Collins's proposal.



Act II
 

Winter has arrived, and Mrs. Bennet is tired of waiting. Hoping to get her daughters married, she plans to send Jane to relatives in London and Lydia with friends to Brighton. Especially the latter seems like a risky venture for Jane, Lizzy, and Mr. Bennet. Still, Mrs. Bennet is determined. However, she decides to keep Mr. Bennet's favorite, middle daughter Lizzy, at home. While taking a walk, Lizzy encounters Mr. Darcy. He declares his love for her, despite her social standing, her family's situation, and unconventional ways, and proposes to her. Confused and humiliated, she declines. Not only has he insulted her, but she also suspects him of being behind Mr. Bingley's neglect of Jane. Mr. Wickham's testimony about Darcy's character strengthens her belief that she actually hates him. Mr. Darcy asks for permission to write a letter to Lizzy to present his version of his past with Wickham and his involvement in the affair concerning her sister and Mr. Bingley.

Lizzy decides to go on a journey alone. First, she visits the Collins couple, experiencing the realities of newlywed Charlotte's life. She travels northward, falls in love with the dramatic landscapes of Derbyshire, unaware that she has ended up on Mr. Darcy's estate, where she encounters him once again.

Meanwhile, Lydia has eloped with Mr. Wickham to London, where they have begun an extramarital relationship. Mr. Wickham refuses to marry Lydia, and the scandal is inevitable. Lizzy and Jane immediately travel home. All prospects of avoiding a catastrophe for the Bennet family seem ruined. However, Lydia shows up – newly married to Mr. Wickham. An anonymous gentleman has paid Lydia's dowry and Wickham's substantial debts... When Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley arrive, the playing field has changed.

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