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Gudrun's 4th Song (1996) 59 minutes.
Opera. 6 vocal soloists, 2 childrens voices, male choir and ensemble.
First performance: Copenhagen 1996, OperaNord, Athelas Ensemble, Flemming Windekilde.
Instrumentation: 1.1.1.1-0.1.1.0-perc(2)-hrp-2vln.vla.2vc.db.
Gudrun´s 4th Song , the work that brought Tómasson the Nordic Council Music Prize, is an operatic work based on poems from the old Icelandic Edda. It consists of 12 numbers for voices and chamber ensemble separated by spoken dialogue. Gudrún´s 4th Song was originally produced by OperaNord in a shipping dock in Copenhagen in the summer of 1996 and had 24 sold out performances. The piece was created by Lucy Bailey (director), Louise Beck (idea and set design), Tarja Ervasti (lighting), Peter Laugesen (writer) and Tómasson.
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The opera tells the harrowing tale of Gudrún, who, after the murder of her husband Sigurd the dragon-slayer, is urged to marry Atli. The opera builds steadily to its dramatic climax: after Atli murders her two brothers, Gudrún takes her revenge by killing their sons and serving him their blood and roasted hearts. Tómasson´s score – his largest to date – follows the extremes of the dramatic situtation, from hauntingly beautiful soliloquies to passages of outspoken drama and violence.
Gudrún´s 4th Song has also been performed in a concert version in Iceland and Sweden and was released on CD by BIS in 1998.
In 2004 Tómasson selected three songs and two interludes for soprano and ensemble or soprano and orchestra titled Songs of Gudrún.
Score (pdf) (prologue)
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”Haukur Tómasson´s composition “Gudrún´s 4th Song” accommodates huge tension between its modern, innovative idiom and the ancient literary Edda tradition which the composer builds upon. The music is a strong interpretation of great emotions: From the light sweetness of love to the dark rage of hate. It is a monumental work, in which melodious and intense arias alternate with ice-cold sensuality and fateful rhythms to create an overall powerful impression reminiscent of the major Icelandic sagas.”
The Nordic Council Music Committee (NOMUS), Music Prize 2004. |
