^Jolie Fille de Perth, La (The Fair Maid of Perth), opera

Bizet, Georges

1867

Bizet's La Jolie Fille, like his Pearl Fishers, is better known as a source of musical excerpts than as a stage drama. The libretto (by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jules Adenis, after Sir Walter Scott's novel, The Fair Maid of Perth) is notoriously lacking in structure, believability, and any strong resemblance to Scott's novel. La Jolie Fille was a repeat commission from the Théatre Lyrique in Paris-a follow-up to The Pearl Fishers. Unfortunately for both Bizet and the Théatre Lyrique, the new work suffered the same flaws-and the same fate-as the first, repeating Pearl Fishers' poor record of only eighteen performances before being withdrawn. La Jolie Fille de Perth was written to feature the renowned coloratura soprano Christine Nillson in the main role, although it was eventually sung by another performer. The casting of the role of Catherine as a coloratura demanded changes to her character as well as the addition of an obligatory Mad Scene, both of which have been cited in flaws in the work. Another frequent criticism is that Bizet neglected to give La Jolie Fille any Scottish musical flavor, opting instead for European dance forms and stock dramatic set pieces. Despite these shortcomings, however, the score is full of invention and beauty, and several pieces-especially Smith's Sérénade-remain well known today.

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