Saint Nicolas op. 42 A Cantata 布瑞頓 清唱劇 總譜 博浩版
尼古拉》（注意，名字中沒有 "H"！）是為蘇塞克斯郡的蘭辛學院百年校慶而作，彼得-皮爾斯十幾歲時曾就讀於這所位於英格蘭南海岸的獨立寄宿中學。該校有一座巨大的禮拜堂，其創始人納旦尼爾-伍德牧師打算將其龐大基金會的所有學校統稱為 "伍德 "學校，並將其作為大教堂。聖尼古拉因許多傳奇奇跡和 "聖誕老人 "的原型而聞名。克羅齊爾的劇本旨在講述聖尼古拉的生平故事，講述他最著名的一些行為，並在關鍵時刻讓觀眾/會眾有機會加入到兩首優美的讚美詩中： 地球上居住的所有人 "和 "上帝以神秘的方式創造奇跡"。敘事全部由合唱團完成，但男高音在扮演成熟的尼古拉時也唱第一人稱敘事。在第二樂章中，年輕的尼古拉由一名男孩演唱。第三樂章是伴奏朗誦，獨唱者唱出了尼古拉在生活的諸多干擾和誘惑的痛苦和折磨中獻身於上帝的情景。他的信仰贏得了勝利，最後他唱出了一句感人的歌詞："愛得到了滿足"。在下一個樂章 "他前往巴勒斯坦 "中，大海掀起了風暴。它威脅著要掀翻船只，淹沒船上的所有人。半合唱團的女高音和女低音發出哀號，男高音和男低音則痛苦地呼喚 "操作水泵"。最後，尼古拉乞求上帝讓暴風雨停息，並對他們的平安抵達表示感謝。在第五樂章 "尼古拉來到邁拉並被選為主教 "中，合唱團唱出合唱般的樂句，歡迎他成為他們的新主教。在第五樂章 "尼古拉來到邁拉並被推選為主教 "中，唱詩班唱出了合唱般的樂句，歡迎他成為他們的新主教，他們為他穿上了主教的所有服飾，包括頭巾、牛角杖（與編劇名字的雙關語）、長袍和戒指。充滿活力的合唱 "為信仰服務，唾棄他的敵人 "引出了第一首偉大的讚美詩--這是一個美妙的高潮時刻。最後一個樂章講述了尼古拉之死，作品在另一首偉大的讚美詩中結束： 最後樂章講述了尼古拉的死，作品以另一首偉大的讚美詩結束："上帝以神秘的方式運行"。這部作品向我展示了布裡頓寬廣的胸懷，以及他對豐富各種水準曲目的自然感受。真是一份禮物！保羅-斯派塞，利奇菲爾德，2011 年"
作曲家: Britten, Benjamin
樂器: tenor solo, mixed choir (SATB), women's choir (SA), 4 boy's voices, string orchestra, piano (4 hands) and percussion
出版社: Boosey & Hawkes
曲目:
Introduction - The Birth of Nicolas - Nicolas devotes himself to God - He journeys to Palestine - Nicolas comes to Myra and is chosen Bishop - Nicolas from Prison - Nicolas and the Pickled Boys - His piety and marvellous works - The Death of Nicolas
Saint Nicolas (note the name has no 'H' in it!) was written for the centenary of Lancing College in Sussex, the independent secondary boarding school on the south coast of England which Peter Pears had attended in his teens. It has a vast chapel intended by its founder, Revd Nathaniel Woodard, as the cathedral for all the schools of his extensive foundation known collectively as 'Woodard' schools. St. Nicolas is famous for many legendary miracles and for being the original 'Santa Claus'. Crozier's libretto is designed to tell the story of his life, to recount some of his most celebrated acts and to give the audience/congregation the opportunity of joining in two beautiful hymns at key moments: 'All people that on earth do dwell' and 'God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform'. The narration is all done by the choir, though the tenor sings first-person narratives as well in his role as the mature Nicolas. The young Nicolas is sung by a boy in movement II. There is a dramatic moment at the end of this movement when the boy's voice does a tumble and the tenor proclaims in the voice of Nicolas as a young man: 'God be glorified'.The third movement is an accompanied recitative in which the soloist sings of Nicolas devoting himself to God through the agonies and torment of the many distractions and temptations of life. His faith wins through and he sings a final touching phrase: 'and Love was satisfied'. The sea whips up a storm in the next movement: 'He journeys to Palestine'. It threatens to overturn the ship and drown everyone on board. There is wailing from the sopranos and altos of the semi-chorus and agonised calls from the tenors and basses to 'man the pumps'. Finally, Nicolas begs God to let the storm cease and offers thanks for their safe delivery. Britten creates a palpable sense of relief in the final pages.In the fifth movement, 'Nicolas comes to Myra and is chosen Bishop', the choir sings chorale-like phrases welcoming him as their new Bishop. They go through his ceremonial dressing with all the accoutrements of his office, the mitre, crozier (nice pun on the librettist's name), robe and ring. An energetic chorus 'Serve the faith and spurn his enemies' leads to the first great hymn - a wonderfully climactic moment. Britten's arrangement is suitably uplifting.The final movement tells of Nicolas' death and the work ends with the other great hymn: 'God moves in a mysterious way'. This work demonstrates to me Britten's generosity of spirit and his natural feeling for enriching the repertoire at all levels of attainment. What a gift!Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011