| Jocelyn | |
| Composer: | Benjamin Godard |
| Librettist: | |
| Language: | French |
| Based On: | poem by Alphonse de Lamartine |
| Premiere Location: | La Monnaie, Brussels |
Jocelyn (Op. 100) is a four-act opera by Benjamin Godard, set to a French libretto by Paul Armand Silvestre and the tenor Victor Capoul. Based on the poem by Alphonse de Lamartine, the action takes place in Grenoble and the surrounding mountains during Corpus Christi at the close of the 18th century. The score bears a dedication "A mon ami Daniel Barton".[1]
This opera is remembered for Godard's most enduring composition,[2] the tender berceuse (lullaby) for tenor, "Oh! ne t'éveille pas encore" commonly known in English as Angels Guard Thee.
Jocelyn premièred on 25 February 1888 at Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels with Pierre-Émile Engel creating the title role. A production with a new cast, including Capoul in the title role, opened in Paris at the Théâtre-Lyrique-National on 13 October the same year.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 25 February 1888[3] (conductor: Joseph Dupont) |
|---|---|---|
| Laurence | soprano | Rose Caron |
| Julie | soprano | Storrelle |
| Young mountain girl | mezzo-soprano | Angèle Legault |
| Jocelyn's mother | mezzo-soprano | L Van Besten |
| Jocelyn | tenor | Pierre-Émile Engel |
| Julie's fiancé | baritone | Rouyer[4] |
| The bishop | bass-baritone | Arthur Henri Seguin |
| Laurence's father | baritone | Jacques Isnardon |
| Old man | bass | Jules Vinche |
| Old shepherd | Jules Vinche[5] | |
| Gaoler | bass | Frankin[6] |
The popular Berceuse has been recorded by many tenors, including Tino Rossi, Capoul, John McCormack, Beniamino Gigli, Edmond Clément, Richard Crooks, Nicolai Gedda, Jussi Björling and Plácido Domingo, as well as by the cellist Pablo Casals.[7] A notable piano trio arrangement was recorded by the Eroica Trio.