| The Canterbury Pilgrims | |
| Composer: | Reginald De Koven |
| Librettist: | Percy MacKaye |
| Language: | English |
| Premiere Location: | Metropolitan Opera House |
The Canterbury Pilgrims is an opera by the American composer Reginald De Koven. It premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House on March 8, 1917 just as the United States was on the verge of declaring war on Germany. The unfolding world events caused its cancellation after just five performances.[1] The libretto, written by Percy MacKaye, is loosely based on Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 8 March 1917[2] (Conductor: Artur Bodanzky) |
|---|---|---|
| Chaucer | baritone | Johannes Sembach |
| Alisoun, The Wife of Bath | contralto | Margarethe Arndt-Ober |
| The Prioress | soprano | Edith Mason |
| The Squire | tenor | Paul Althouse |
| King Richard II | tenor | Albert Reiss |
| Johanna | soprano | Marie Sundelius |
| The Friar | tenor | Max Bloch |
| The Knight | baritone | Robert Leonhardt[3] |
| Joannes | tenor | Pietro Audisio |
| Man of Law | baritone | Robert Leonhardt |
| The Miller | bass | Basil Ruysdael |
| The Host | bass | Giulio Rossi |
| The Herald | bass | Riccardo Tegani |
| Two Girls | Marie Tiffany, Minnie Egener | |
| The Pardoner | tenor | Julius Bayer |
| The Summoner | baritone | Carl Schlegel |
| The Shipman | baritone | Mario Laurenti |
| The Cook | bass | Pompilio Malatesta |
Place: England.Time: April, 1387.[4]
The story has to do with the merry schemes of the Wife of Bath, who has fallen in love with Chaucer who in his turn loves the Prioress, and of her winning of a bet to gain possession of a certain brooch which carries with it Chaucer's promise of marriage. He is finally rescued by Richard II who decides that the Wife may marry a sixth time only on condition that she marry a miller. A devoted miller joyfully accepts the opportunity and the Prioress and Chaucer are reconciled.