At its 1860 premiere, "Lurline" was hailed by Victorian theatre critics as an "outright success" and a "landmark production of the season," despite some criticism of its libretto.
Composition History
William Vincent Wallace, the composer, worked with Edward Fitzball to create the libretto for "Lurline," an opera based on the popular 'Lorelei' Rhine Maiden legend.
Cultural Impact
The popularity of "Lurline" was so great that its name was given to a yacht, a racing horse, and even children.
Critical Reception
The French composer Hector Berlioz was a great champion of Wallace, calling him "a dramatic composer of rare value" and praising "Lurline" as a "fantastic, graceful opera."
Compositional Technique
Wallace's "Lurline" features advanced orchestration for its period, with brilliant use of wind instruments and carefully crafted string parts, reflecting his nickname 'the Australian Paganini'.
Recording & Production
This recording of "Lurline" reverts to most of the original wording from Wallace's autograph score, as many revisions made for the 1860 vocal score seemed inferior to 21st-century eyes.
Composition History
There was a twelve-year delay between the composition and the premiere of "Lurline," possibly due to Wallace's absence for an American tour of his opera "Maritana."
