William Ratcliff

Libretto based on the poem of the same title by Heinrich Heine, translated by Andrea Maffei; German version by Emil Taubert (I,G)

S,2M,5T,2Bar,4B; mixed chorus;
2.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(3):BD/cym/SD/tam-t/glsp/tgl-2harp-strings;
on-stage: ob.2bn-hn.5trbn-perc:bells
(This work is published and distributed for stage performances by Boosey & Hawkes / Bote & Bock in Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and in German speaking Switzerland.)

Scotland around 1820

William Ratcliff was once engaged to Maria, MacGregor’s daughter. When she rejected him, he vowed to kill all men who asked for her hand in marriage. One of those challenged to a duel by Ratcliff at their wedding day is Count Douglas, Maria’s fiancé. When Douglas throws William to the ground during their fight, but recognising him to be the man who saved him from bandits shortly before on his way to the castle, he spares Ratcliff’s life and hurries away. Ratcliff, unimpressed with his friend’s magnanimity, decides to abduct Maria. Maria learns from her nurse that her father and Ratcliff’s father Edward had been enemies because both of them were in love with the same woman, Maria’s mother Eliza. As a result, Edward was killed by MacGregor. Bleeding from the wound inflicted by Douglas, William pushes his way into Maria’s sleeping room, only to be rejected again, although Maria feels strong pity for him. He then stabs her and her father, who rushes into the room, before taking his own life.

Romantic, Tragic