Rikard Nordraak, the young poet, has written a beautiful poem about Norway, which Edvard Grieg, the young composer, has promised to set to music. Edvard and Rikard accompany Nina Hagerup, with whom Edvard is in love, to the midsummer’s eve celebration in the small city of Bergen, Norway.
To this colorful town comes the famous opera star, Countess Louisa Giovanni, and her husband, Count Peppi LeLoup. The Countess is enchanted by the music and person of Edvard Grieg. She offers him the opportunity of accompanying her on a concert tour through Europe. Nina and Edvard announce their betrothal just prior to Edward’s departure with the Countess and her husband.
One year later, Edvard has attained some renown as a composer and is the rage of Copenhagen under the sponsorship of his patroness, the Countess. The elder Griegs have come to Copenhagen with Nina and Rikard to attend Edvard’s concert. They are taken aback at the change in the young composer. Nina and Rikard are upset, because Edvard has agreed to write the music for Henrik Ibsen's poetic drama Peer Gynt, abandoning his promise to musicalize Rikard's poem about Norway.
Principals
(5 female; 6 male)
Nina Hagerup - Soprano
Louisa Giovanni (The Countess LeLoup) - Soprano
Mother Grieg
Miss Anders, a Pupil of the Conservatory
Sigrid, a girl
Edvard Grieg - Baritone
Rikard Nordraak - Tenor
Einar, a boy
Freddy, the village fiddler
Count Peppi LeLoup
Father Grieg
Others
Gunnar, a boy
Helga, a girl
Eric, a boy
Grima, a girl
Christa, a girl
Father Nordraak
Elvera, Music Student at the Conservatory
Hedwig, Music Student at the Conservatory
Greta, Music Student at the Conservatory
Marghareta, Music Student at the Conservatory
Miss Norden, a Faculty Member
Henrik Ibsen
Tito Proprietor of the Chocolate Shop
Pisoni Impresario of the Royal Opera
Major Domo At the Villa Pincio
Adelina, Prima Ballerina of the opera
Ensemble
Young People of the Village
Guests and Members of the Faculty at Copenhagen
Employees at Tito’s
Guests and Servants at the Villa Pincio
Townspeople and Neighbors of Edvard Grieg