The Snow Queen is achamber opera in six scenes and a prologue byMatthew King. The libretto, by Andrew McKinnon, is based onthe original 1844 allegorical fairy tale byHans Christian Andersen. The opera was composed in 1992 for the British sopranoJane Manning who sang the title role in the first performance with Pal Rullestad (tenor) and Tracy Chadwell (soprano) in supporting roles. The work also has significant roles for two young singers as Gerda and Kay, the heroic children in the story and a chorus of treble voices. The work is scored for a small ensemble of eight players with conductor: string trio, flute/piccolo/alto flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, piano/celesta and percussion. The pianist also has to play a melodian. At one point, the conductor is required to play a French horn.The wide-ranging musical narrative involves a plethora of musical styles. A review of the first performance described King as being "like a bright Hollywood composer with a sense of humour"[1] and, after a subsequent performance at theQueen Elizabeth Hall in London, another reviewer suggested that the opera contained '"music of distinctive beauty with disarming theatre sense.'"[2]
An opera with the same title and plot was composed by Danish composerHans Abrahamsen, with libretto by Henrik Engelbrecht.
Prologue – An introductory narrative about a sinister hobgoblin, whose malevolent mirror breaks into a million pieces, is spoken by the soprano over a muttering accompaniment of whispering with percussion played by all members of the ensemble.
Scene 1 – Gerda and her brother Kay sing a lullaby-trio with their grandmother. Kay goes too near the window and is abducted by the Snow Queen. The composer has said that the music in the scene "hovers betweenSchoenbergianexpressionism andGrieg with hints ofKurt Weill."
Scene 2 – Gerda sets out on her journey to theNorth Pole in order to rescue Kay. A witch holds her captive for a period in a magic garden, but eventually lets her continue her quest. The music in this scene switches betweenHungarianGypsy andKlezmer style.
Scene 4 is a bizarre cabaret in which Gerda is captured by a band of robbers. There is a revolution during which the instrumental ensemble invade the stage and singmarxist choruses. The violinist leads the robber band, singing whilst playing.
Scene 5 is a homage toWagner and contains several quotations fromthe Ring Cycle. Gerda meets a Reindeer who helps her on her journey north. En route, they encounter wise women of Finland and Lapland who speak mysterious prophecies to them.
Scene 6 is at the North Pole. The music of the Snow Queen's palace sounds like a Javanesegamelan but when the Snow Queen appears she sings a terrifyingly long and virtuosic aria inAnglo Saxon verse. The music, composed in paralleltime signatures is an unusual mix ofStravinsky and a kind ofserialjazz. Finally Gerda sings the opening lullaby to her brother and the ice splinter in his heart melts. They walk out of the Snow Queen's palace and go home. The Snow Queen, left all alone, laments her loss accompanied by a melodian. The chorus sings quietly in response, hinting at the possibility of redemption.
