CAST (in Act 1) Victor Frankenstein, a rash young Swiss scientist High Baritone Elizabeth Lavenza,...
Transcript of CAST (in Act 1) Victor Frankenstein, a rash young Swiss scientist High Baritone Elizabeth Lavenza,...
FRANKENSTEIN
opera in three acts
music by Greg Sandow libretto by Thomas M. Disch
Act 1 — The Open Grave
vocal score
music © 1981, 2003 by Greg Sandow libretto © 1981 by Thomas M. Disch
CAST (in Act 1)
Victor Frankenstein, a rash young Swiss scientist High Baritone Elizabeth Lavenza, his fiancée Soprano Henry Clerval, his friend, also in love with Elizabeth Tenor The Creature, created and then abandoned by Victor Frankenstein Bass-baritone Charlotte, Elizabeth’s friend and confidante Mezzo-soprano Victor’s Father Bass Villagers (SATB) Elizabeth’s friends (SSA)
Frankenstein is adapted from Mary Shelley’s 1811 novel, and is far closer to the book than to the famous Boris Karloff movie. I wrote a scenario for the opera, setting forth the overall story, the division into acts and scenes, and the layout of the main musical numbers. The novelist, poet, and literary critic Thomas M. Disch wrote the libretto in an amazing 19th-century style, refining the details and characters of my scenario in ways I never would have thought of. We both wanted to create an opera in the style of the 19th century Italian works we both love, and in certain scenes tried to imagine what might have happened if Bellini or Donizetti had adapted Mary Shelley’s story. That’s clearest in the second scene of Act 1, with its opening chorus followed by the soprano’s aria and cabaletta.
* Act 2, scene 2 was performed at the Lake George Opera Festival in 1979. That scene, along with Act 1 up to the end of Elizabeth’s aria, was performed at the opera workshop at C.W. Post College in 1980. The entire opera was premiered (with piano) in a wonderful workshop production there in 1981. The first act was performed, with orchestra, at the New York City Opera’s VOX showcase of new works, in May, 2003, by these terrific people:
Victor Daniel Mobbs Elizabeth Shannah Timms Henry Paul Mow Creature Jan Opalach Father/Philip Scott Altman Charlotte Marion Capriotti
conductor Brent McMunn
and, of course, the New York City Opera orchestra
THE STORY
Scene 1: A room in a remote Swiss inn. Victor Frankenstein lies sick, tended for many months by his friend Henry. As Victor raves, we learn that he found a way to bring dead flesh to life, and then recoiled in horror from what he created. An offstage horn announces the arrival of the mail coach, and Henry leaves, hoping there will be letters from Victor’s fiancée Elizabeth. Villagers pass by, singing a Lenten hymn. Victor awakens. Henry returns with a letter from Elizabeth, but Victor won’t read it, saying that he knows what it will say. He orders Henry to pack his things; he will return to Elizabeth, hoping she can fill his emptiness with light.
Scene 2: A graveyard. Elizabeth, Charlotte, and a chorus of Elizabeth’s friends stand mourning at an open grave. Buried in it is Justine, a servant girl who has been hanged for the murder of a Victor’s brother William, a very young child. Elizabeth insists Justine was innocent, and persuades her friends and Charlotte to celebrate that innocence by putting flowers in Justine’s grave. Charlotte and the friends leave, but Charlotte rushes back to tell Elizabeth that Victor has returned. When he arrives, he’s weak, and is only able to say that he’s been near to death. In a quintet, Elizabeth pours out her love; Charlotte and Henry worry that her love will doom her; Victor’s father gazes at his son with blind pride. At the end of the quintet, Elizabeth faints. A storm is coming; everyone leaves except Victor, who asks to be left alone. As he sits, haunted by fearful thoughts of the Creature he created, he hears a voice; it’s the Creature, which has been watching him, and now emerges from the darkness. As the storm begins to rage, it tells its story. Victor had fled in terror after bringing it to life; it watched him and Henry through the windows of the inn, and learned to speak by imitating them. Now, filled with rage, it has murdered William, and will do worse unless Victor builds it a female companion. Lit by a ghastly flash of lightning, it pulls Justine’s body from the grave. “We will wait, my ladylove and I,” it shouts, and vanishes into the storm. “If I comply,” Victor cries, “it’s for your sake, Elizabeth!
*
The rest of the opera: Victor finally agrees to marry Elizabeth, as he’d long ago promised. He’s created the female Creature, and brought it to life; as if to celebrate his wedding, he kills it brutally. In revenge, the Creature kills Elizabeth, on her and Victor’s wedding night. Victor and Henry pursue the Creature toward the North Pole. Henry begs Victor to abandon his obsessive quest, and Victor, enraged, kills him. The Creature kills Victor, and dies alone on the polar ice, cursing its creator, all humankind, and finally itself.
CONTENTS
Prelude 5
Scene 1
“You are the cause…See where he lies” (Henry) 6
“I will not look at it” (Victor, Henry) 10
“There was an apple on a tree” (Chorus) 14
“You are awake!” (Henry, Victor) 16
Interlude 19
Scene 2
“Just as, my dear, each day at dawn” (Chorus, Elizabeth) 20
“Dear friends, I thank you” (Elizabeth, Charlotte, Chorus) 24
“Elizabeth, he’s here!…Love cannot change” (Charlotte, Elizabeth) 33
“Love swells through my heart” (Quintet) 37
“Henry, I need your help” (Charlotte, Victor’s Father, Victor) 50
“Oh, that I might cease to think” (Victor, Creature) 53
1
1
FRANKENSTEIN
Grave
PRELUDE
Act 1 -- The Open Grave
f
ff
heavily
p
dolce, espress.
3 3
poco rit. A little more quickly, slightly agitated
p
x = e
Warmly, faster, pressing forward
p
rfz
5
rfz
3
p
legato, sinister
poco
Warmly
SCENE 1
p
rfz
A little more slowly, quasi recitative
H.
[CURTAIN. A room in an inn. Papers scatteredeverywhere; books on a shelf. Victor Frankenstein lies in bed, unconscious. Henry sits near him.]
Henry (quite disturbed)
f
You are
the cause,
E li
- za- beth.
-
For
p
rfz
3
mp
f heavily
sfz
[col canto]
p
6
H. you I have
put by
My stu
emphatically
dy- of
the
f
law.
more quietly, lyrically
For you
I've jour
neyed- To
this moun
tain- waste
To
f
p
H. find your false
be trothed,
- Your Fran
ken- stein.
-
For
p
you,
hushed
through months
Of snow
bound- si
lence- I
have
pp
sfz
p
3 3
H. nursed
him—
Fran ken- stein,
-
Friend of
my child
freely, emphatically
hood,-
,
Ri
val- of my
poco f
[col canto]
f
7
More slowly
rit.
H. youth,
pThe man
you love,
E li
- za- beth,
-
As faith
ful
freely
- ly
- as I've
loved you.
p
[col canto]
attaca
Intense, flowing
H.
See
p
where
he lies,
i nert,
- un con
- scious,- in
fan- tine
- On ly
- a live
- at
p
p
H.
all
Be cause
- I spoon
In to
- his droo
ling- mouth
The slops
Hecan
not- feed
darkly
him self.
-
Look at
the
p
8
H.
limbs
espress.
I dai
ly- bathe,
How like
the rot
ted- flesh
His lear
ned- knives
Would
rfz
H.
once dis sect.
- See
p
how
hushed
his breath
bare ly- stirs
The bed
clothes- His
in
-
p
sempre p
3
H.
con ti- nence
- de files.
-
And what
is most
ob scene
f
-
f
3
3
3
9
rit.
H.
When he
a wakes
- I
must lis
ten
- to Ra
vings- in con- cei
- va- bly- vile,
espress.
f
3
Slowly
H.
ra vings in con
muffled
- cei
- va- bly- vile…
p
p
At about the same tempo, but quite freely
V.
Victor (weakly)
I
p
will
not look
at it.
I will
not touch…
And yet,
see there,
The mus
cles- Con
veryurgently
-
sfp
poco p
poco rfz
poco
10
…holding back…
…a tempo
V.
tract, Re lax,
growing weaker
-
con tract…
ppstrangled
-
No
p
gaining strength,with feeling
more!…
In day
passionately,molto espress.
light- With you,
E li
- za- beth,
- In I
ta- ly- as
rfz
p
rfz
Freely, much slower
A tempo, more slowly than before
V.
I have vowed.
But
in a different tone, `without feeling
stop,
re gard:
-
To these sor
ry- scraps
of death
I shall
im part
- a rhyth
mi- cal
- di
-
sfz
[col canto]
pp
accel. A little faster
rit.
V.
la tion.-
Ob serve
- it well.
See how
the plas
ma's- sucked
In to
- the ar
te- ry,
- and then
ex pelled.
- Quite
sinister, legato
rfz
p
11
A tempo
poco accel. Recitative, a little more quickly
H.
V.
Henry
He seems
half ra
tio- nal
- to day.
-
Some
dead,
very proud,but calmly
you see,
but then
In fused
- with air,
it's red,
a
live!
fstops, horribly afraid
-
p
poco
p
f
meno f
H.
V.
stench yet of
the char
nal- house
In all
this speech,
but his man
ner- Has
be come
- so much
more
Victor (horribly agitated)
f
A
-
12
Hectic, but a bit more slowly
Holding back…
…a tempo
poco rit.
H.
V.
calm.
way fromme!
There is
no pact,
No bond
be tween
- us, none!
You have
no right
to look
at me,
Nor yet
to
f
rfz
espress
sfz
3
More quickly and urgently
V.
live.
fading intounconsciousness
[The coachman's hornis heard offstage.]
p
3 3
3
H. mf
Thecoach
man's-
horn!
At last,
the pass
is clear.
There may
be
f
13
…holding back… …a tempo
H.
let ters- from
E li
- za- beth.
- E li
inspired
- za- beth!
- Seewhat
joyfully
a trea
sure
- I bring.
I've kept
my pledge
to you;
with sudden despair
Nowtake
my
poco
subito p
poco rit.
H.
woun ded- heart.
f
3
e = q
Deliberately, but not too slowly
Chorus
There
was
an
ap
ple
- on
a tree
That grew
inGod's
e
ter
- ni
- ty.
- That
ap
ple
- ea
ten
-
sfz
inaudible
14
Chorus
we
must
die,
Our
sins
are writ
ten
- in
the sky.
No
in
no- cence
- on earth
is
found.
Clo
ser,- clo
ser-
Chorus
comes
the
sound
of
Death
very intense
with
in
- his
crim
son
- coach,
Our
hearts
in vite:
- Ap proach!
very troubled
Ap
p
proach!
- He
makes
the
bri
dal
-
Chorus
gown
a shroud.
He smites
f
the
wise,
the brave,
the
proud.
In to
- his
very intense
cup
our
blood
is
poured;
Our
flesh
is bread
u
-
15
Chorus
pon
his board.
O
Lord
of
Hea
ven,
- hear
our
cry!
Lead us
to life,
and
let
death
die.
Crush
his
bones,
his
H.
V.
Chorus
Henry (surprised)
You
f
are
a
wake!
-
Victor (grimly)
I am
a
name,
his face.
And e
ver
intense
- shall
we
praise
thy
grace.
And
e
ver
- shall
we
praise
thy
grace.
And…
inaudible
sf
16
Slowly Recitative
poco rit.
H.
V.
Henry (simply)
It
p
was
No vem
- ber- when
I came.
To
cantabile
day
-
live.
How long
have I lain
here,
How ma
ny- days?
p
heavily
[col canto]
p dolce
A tempo, a little more slowly than before
More broadly
H. Lent be gins.
- Have you
not heard
the pe
ni- tents?
-
,
Four
darkly, troubled
months
you lay
In thrall
to your
de li
- ri- um.
- Now you
a
-
p
A tempo
H.
V.
rise a gain—
- and look,
A let
ter- from
E
as if urging Victor to be cheerful
li
- za- beth.
-
Victor
There is
no need
to o
pen- it.
Re
-
p
poco
17
slightly holding back…
…a tempo
V.
turn to me,
with a hint of mockery
she writes,
Ful fill
- your vow.
Make me
your bride.
Hen
ry,
-
with determination, verypowerfully, but not loudly
I must
a gain
- Com mand
- your
poco
p
sonorous and powerful
V.
strength. Col lect
- these pa
pers- from
my desk,
And from
the shelf
a bove,
- These books,
See they
are
Hold back a little… …a tempo
V.
packed.
E li
- za- beth!
-
De stroy
- my me
mo- ries,
- And fill
my emp
ff`
ti- ness
-
,
with
ff`
[col canto]
p
18
A tempo, a little faster
accel.
V.
light.
[CURTAIN]
ff`
p
Holding back A tempo
mp
p
espress., passionately
rinf.
rinf.
pocorinf.
ff
3
A little more slowly
Freely
p
very light and transparent
19
rit.
SCENE 2
...gradually slipping into the next tempo...
più f
sfz
[CURTAIN. An unhallowed graveyard at the top of a rugged hill. A few crude graves shadowed by cypresses, and one open grave. Elizabeth, Charlotte, and a chorus of Elizabeth's friends stand near it.]
Lightly and sadly, but with a lilt
Fr. Elizabeth's Friends
Just
p
as,
my
dolce
dear,
each day
pochiss.
at dawn
The bright
stars
di sap- pear,
-
So
p
p
pochiss.
E.
Fr.
Elizabeth (grief-stricken)
mp
So must
we die,
so must
we die.
must
at last
we die,
my love,
poco
In to- the bright
ness-
of
p
the sky
a bove.
-
How
poco
p
poco
20
E.
Fr.
ElizabethHow
mp
harsh
the terms
of death.
swift
p
the rose
doth wilt
and de com- pose.
-
[divided in two parts]
How harsh
the terms
poco
of death.
As li
p
[in three parts]
ving- bo
dies-
poco
p
E.
Fr.
Elizabeth shuddering
Toworms!
How deep
espress., cantabile
thegrave,
How dark
the earth,
poco
yield
their flesh—
How
p
calmly
harsh
of death,
howharsh
the terms.
How
[a2]
deep
espress., cantabile
thegrave,
[a3]
How dark
the earth,
poco
Where
subito p
subito p
espress., cantabile
poco
subito p
21
E.
Fr.
Elizabeth
How
mp
deep,
how dark,
Howdark
the earth.
in
we crave
our
pochiss.
se cond- birth.
O
p
Lord
more strongly
of light,
In struct
- our sight.
Re
pochiss.
p
poco rinf., more strongly
E.
Fr.
espress.
Elizabeth
That
veal
the stars
that
blos
som- al
ways- in
the
mea
dows-
of the night.
Re veal
- the stars
that
p
22
rit.
E.
Fr.
blos som- in
the mea
- dows of
the night.
poco
In the
molto espress.
mea
p
-dows of
the
blos
som- in
the mea
[a2]
dows
[a3]
- of
the night,
espress.
poco
that
blos som,- blos
som- in
the
mea dows.-
poco
[col canto]
p
A tempo
E.
Fr.
night.
Re
p
veal,
awed
- O Lord,
the
rinf.
p
poco
poco
p
23
Recitative (slowly, freely)
E.
Fr.
pDear
Elizabeth
friends,
I
very simply
thank
you
That you share
my grief.
Left to
my
night.
p
poco rit. A tempo, slowly
E.
Fr.
self I would
grieve Word
less- ly,
- and tears
un shed
-
poco espress.
Would turn
my heart
to stone.
Elizabeth's Friends
p
E li
- za
compassionately
- beth,
- Poor
p
24
Recitative (freely)
Slowly
E.
Ch.
Fr.
with sudden despair
Elizabeth
Wil liam
- is dead!
Charlotte
To be
a
with great sadness
lone
- and to
have felt
such woe.
lamb, Sweet child.
espress.
rit.
Slowly -- very sustained andsad, with restrained passion
E. A
p
child
not ten
years old,
Slain
For mere pos ses
-
freely, espress.
sing- of a gol
den-
p
sostenuto
sf
E. chain.
I can not- bear
Re mem
-
desolate
be- ring.
-
And worse,
with intense innerfeeling, freely
to think
That
heavily
sf
p
25
E.
Fr.
Vic tor
distinctly
- must re turn
- To such a hor
ror.- His dear est- bro
ther- Dis mem
- bered- bru
bitterly tal- ly.
-
Friendsp
E li
-
very concerned
za-
sf
p
E.
Fr.
p
And mine
the hand
with great intensity, but quietly
that hung the chain
a bout- his neck
As
passionately
in vi- ta
- tion- to
the
beth, Be calm,
No more.
sf
26
E.
Ch.
deed.
Guilt
Elizabeth
f
less!-
passionately
Dare you ac cuse
- Jus tine?
- She loved
that child
As
Charlotte
Yourhand,
E li
- za
very concerned
- beth,- is guilt
less- as your heart.
p
sf
mf
rit.
e = q
With more animation, a little faster
E. I
with great purity
loved her.
A mur
dur
freely, decisively
- ess—- Jus tine?
-
Be
cause,
p
her- - false
ac cu
- sers- claim,
The
p
rit. A tempo
E. lo
cket
- I let
poor Wil
liam- wear,
Was found
f
passionately
on her
And
she
freely
could not
ex plain.
- And
p
yet
simply, but with great intensity
she
f
[col canto]
p
27
E. swore— and I
be lieve—
- That she
was in
no- cent.
- If there
with great feeling
is guilt,
f
it's mine!
dim.
I
f
dim.
E. hung
that chain
on WiIl
liam's- - neck,
And
E. by
it my
Jus tine
-
Was
p
hanged.
See
p
28
E. where
stifled
her poor
dis ho
- nored- - corpse
Rots
rit.
E.
Ch.
in a grave
un
hal
- lowed.
- A vic
tim- of
the law.
Charlotte
E liz
concerned, but also as if trying to explain an obvious truth
- a- beth,
- Jus
-
mp
A tempo
poco rit.
E.
Ch.
very simply, with conviction
Yes,
When her
con fes
- sor- threa
tened- to
with hold
- The
sa
cra- ment,
- Un der
that tor
ture
- She
con
tine
con
fessed.
-
p
29
rit.
A tempo
E. fessed.
But at
p
the
with convinction, butquietly; cantabile
mo
ment- of
her death,
In sa
molto cantabile; warmly;as if inspired
cred
- con
fi-
-
p
espress.
More broadly
E. dence
she swore
That she
was in
no- cent.
-
f
Ah,
if
with great tenderness
you'd
pressed
her hand
dolce
If
espress.
f
Freely, quasi cadenza
E. you
had
seen
her tears,
You could
not doubt
her
in
p
no- cence.
- You could
not doubt
her.
p
30
A tempo, slowly rit.
E. Ah!
f
You could
not doubt
her in
no- cence.
- Poor
wre
poco f
tched
in tears
- girl,
Jus
p
-
poco f
[col canto]
A tempo
E. tine!
And
now,
in ho
nor- of
her in
no
[From a large bouquet she takes a singleflower and drops it into the open grave.]
- cence,
- I place
this flo
wer
- in
her
p
A little more slowly
E. grave.
As you call
your selves
- my friends,
Place by
this flo
wer
- Flo
freely, with great feeling
wers- of
your
31
Andante mosso, expressively, but very simply
E. own.
[Elizabeth's friends, led by Charlotte, advance one by one to take a flower from the bouquet. Each kneels to place it in Justine's grave, then slowly exits through the graveyard's iron gates.]
p
3 3
3
rfz
p
rfz
p
rfz
32
rit.
Quickly, agitated
E.
Ch.
[As the last member of the chorusdeparts, Charlotte returns excitedly]
Elizabeth (weakly)
Vic
tor!
-
Charlotte
E
li
- za- beth,
- he's here!
With
p
quasi cadenza
p
Ch. Hen
excited
ry,- In
his fa
ther's- coach,
And
oh!
pre
pare
- your self,
- For he
is changed.
E. Vic
Elizabeth (defiantly)
ftor
- changed?
ff
33
With defiant confidence
E. Love
Elizabeth
can
not
- change.
To ge
- ther,
- a part,
- Love lives
in
the
mp
3 3
E. heart
And
can
not
- change.
The con
p
stant- heart
is bea
ting-
mp
p
E. al
ways—
- A wake,
- a sleep,
- In sor
row,
- in plea
sure,
- In
34
E. an ger,
- in pain,
The
heart
lightly
3 3 3
p
E.
Ch.
defiantly
is e
ver
- the same.
Charlotte
How short
his breath,
p
How
p
3 33
3 3
3
E.
Ch.
Elizabeth
How long
I've prayed
for
slow
his steps.
Scarce has
he strength
To lift
his feet.
35
poco rit. A tempo
E. his
re turn,
- But now
I
feel
a
pier
cing
- fear.
The con
stant- heart
is bea
ting-
p
3 3
E. al
ways—
- In sor
row,
- in plea
sure,
- In an
ger,
- in pain,
The
p
E.
heart
lightly
defiantly
is
e
3 3 3
3 3 3 3
- - -
p
p
3
p
3
36
rit.
E.
f
desperately
- - - - - - - ver
the same.
ff
ff
mf f
Moderately
V.
[Victor enters, with his father, supportedby Henry. He takes a few weak steps toward Elizabeth.]
Victor (weakly)
E li
- za
freely, somewhat halting
- beth,
- I have
been near
to death—
E
-
p
rit.
Cantabile; andante
E.
V.
[Victor breaks off, overcome by weakness and emotion.]
Elizabeth (aside)
Love
mp
swells through
my
molto espress.
heart
Like
p
[During this quintet, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Henry, Victor, and Victor's father all stand motionless, lost in their private thoughts.]
the tides
poco rfz
of
the sea
That
li
anguished
za- beth—
-
mf
espress.
più f
rfz p
poco rfz
37
A little faster
E.
V.
spill
on end
less- sands,
For see,
he stands
p
Be
side
- me.
pp
Love swells
well in the background
through
my
Victor (aside)p
Like the dove
to its
p
poco
p
E.
V.
heart.
For see,
he stands
Be side
- me
Love swells
in
my
nest
My
heart
has
come home
To
the
home
it knows
best,
And my
p
poco
p
poco
38
poco accel. …più mosso…
E.
Ch.
V.
heart.
For see,
he stands
Be
Charlotte (aside)
mp
Like a moth
to a flame,
She is drawn
to the
love
lies at rest
Be side
- me.
p
My heart
in the background
has
come home.
mp
39
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
side
me.
Victor's father should predominate here,but the other parts should be less in thebackground than subordinate partshave been previously.
Elizabeth
Love
doom
Of
p
a mis
in the background
pligh
- ted- troth
And
she
can do
naught
But
fly
intensely
to the
Henry (aside)
Love
swells
through
my heart,
Like the tides
Asthey surge
on shore.
Love
Victor
pMy heart
has
come home.
Victor's Father (aside)
mp
Like the pro
di- gal
- son
Of
p
40
E.
Ch.
H.
F.
swells
through my
heart.
light,
to the
light.
swells
through my
heart.
And
I
in the background
can
do
naught
But hear
its roar
In
side
- me.
par
a- bles'
- fame.
My
boy
has come
home
And
my
heart
swells
f
with pride.
With a
f
41
rit.
E.
Ch.
F.
Elizabeth
p
Ah!
freely
Charlotte
She's
mp
drawn
in the background
to
her
doom.
ter
fri- ble
- pride,
f
a
ter
ri- ble,
- ter
ri- ble
- pride,
a
ter
ri- ble
- pride.
f
f
...returning to tempo... A tempo
E.
V.
F.
,
Like
the
p
light
dolce
of
the moon
At the
pp
My
Victor
heart
has
come
pp
My
Father
boy
has
come home.
My
[col canto]
p
42
E.
H.
V.
F.
noon
tide- of night.
When it stands
at
its height,
Love shines
in my
Henry
Love
pp
swells
through
my heart.
I feel
its roar
in side
- me.
home.
heart
swells
with pride.
A ter
ri- ble
-
43
…poco piu mosso… …even more…
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
soul.
Elizabeth (enraptured)
I
Charlotte
mp
Like a moth
to a flame
She is drawn
to her doom
And
Henry
Love
p
swells
through
my heart.
And
I
p
My love
lies
at rest
Be side
- me.
pride.
p
My boy
has
come home,
My
44
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
know
you'll
be
soon
And
for
ev
- er
- be
side
-
me.
mp
Love
swells
she
can
do
naught
But
fly
to the
light,
She's
doomed!
hear
its
roar,
its
roar
In
side
me.
Love
swells
through
my
heart,
mp
swells
Like
the
dove
to its
nest
My
heart's
come
home.
My
love's
mp
here
Be
heart
swells
with pride,
With a ter
ri- ble
- pride.
My
mp
mp
45
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
through
my
heart,
through
my
heart.
f
Like
a
moth
to a
flame
f
She's
drawn
to her
through
my
heart,
It's
roa
ring- in
side
-
f
me.
side
me, be
side
- me.
My
f
heart
has
come
heart
swells,
swells
with pride,
f
f
rfz
46
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
You'll
be
here
for
e
- ver
- Be
side
-
me.
doom,
to her
doom,
to
her
doom.
She's drawn
to
her
I
hear
it
roa
ring- In
side
- me.
Likea moth
to a flame
I am
home,
my
love's
here
Be
side
- me, My love
is here
Be side
- me.
With
a
ter
ri- ble
- pride,
a
ter
ri- ble
- pride.
47
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
mf
Be
side
-
f
me.
You'll
be
here,
for
e
- ver,
- for
-
doom.
She's
drawn
f
to her
doom,
And
she
can do
naught
But
drawn
to my doom,
My
heart
swells
f
with
love
In
side
- me
For
-
mf
My
love
lies
f
at
rest
Be
side
- me
For
-
My boy
has
come home,
My
heart
swells
f
with pride,
With
a
ter
ri- ble
- pride,
With a
f
48
Freely; quasi cadenza
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
e
ver
- Be
side
- me.
fly
to the
light.
She
p
can
do naught;
she can
do naught;
e
ver- in
side
- me. I
p
can
do naught;
I can
do naught
e
ver- be
side
- be. My
p
love's
at rest;
my love's
at rest
ter
ri- ble
- pride. My heart
p
swells with pride;
swells with pride,
[col canto]
49
poco rit. A tempo
E.
Ch.
H.
V.
F.
Elizabeth
He
f
stands
Be side
- me.
[Elizabeth faints. Victor, hardly strongenough to move, stands still.]
she can
do
naught
But
f
fly
to the
light.
but
hear
its
roar
In
fside,
- in
side
- me.
my
love's
at
rest,
f
Be
side,
- be
side
- me.
ter
ri
- ble
- pride;
My
f
heart
swells
with
pride.
f
rfz
p
A little more slowly; flexibly
A little more slowly, freely
Ch. Hen
Charlottemp
ry—-
I need
your help.
Why
scolding
did
[Henry and Victor's father takeElizabeth, and do as Charlottedirects.]
not
you wait
be low?
-
We must take
her to
the
p
poco rfz
50
Ch.
V.
F.
coach.
Gent
ly;
-
gent
ly.-
(as she leaves)
Do not
be
I
pVictor
must be
a lone
poco
- a while.
-
Father (turning back to address his son)
p
Are you
not co
ming- with
us?
poco
rit. Slowly
molto rit.
Ch. long.
A storm
will be
u pon
- us mo
ment
[Charlotte follows the others out.Night begins to fall.]
- ly.
-
espress.
molto
51
A little faster, freely
V.
Oh,
Victor (alone; with great feeling)
that I
might cease
to think—
Or that
mywill
were stron
ger- And I
could say:
I will
not think
on
p
p
p
p
molto rit.
A tempo, a little slower
rit. More slowly
V.
it a gain
- And it
will go
a
f
way.
-
I can
not- see
a crip
ple- in the street,
Or mourn
p
sadly
this in
no-
f
poco
p
mf
poco mf
V.
cent dead girl,
But straight I see
the limbs
My hands and knives
have knit
And fear and pro
phe- cy
- be come- A
pochiss. p
rfz
poco p
52
poco rit.
A tempo
V.
Cr.
sin gle- pulse in ar
te- ry- and
vein.
[A voice is heard from the darkness behind Victor. The speaker is invisible; it is the Creature.]
The Creature (implacable)
And
p
e
ven- in
the air
you breathe,
The
p
pp sinister
rit.
Cr.
scent of that
pro phe
- tic- fear
Will hang,
I'll cling
to you,
And drink
your strength
and make
it
f
f
A tempo, a little faster poco rit. A tempo, freely
Cr.
mine!
Be lieve
- it, Fran
ken- stein,
- as you'd be lieve
- The di
gits- on this hand
that killed your
mf
poco
rfz
mf
poco
mf
poco mf
53
rit.
A tempo
rit.A tempo, much more slowly
Cr.
bro ther- and pur
f
loined
- the chain
By which this in
no- cent- was hung
Are five.
And
pp
what
very dark these
f
mf
pp
A tempo, faster
Cr.
five Have done
they'll do
a gain.
-
louder
No crime
with marked rhythm,majestically
so gross
but it
shall
molto
be
the
pp
dug
with anger At which
these
mf
molto
pp
rit. accel. …al… …tempo
V.
Cr.
Victor (terrified)
I
car rion- lips
shall suck
re venge—
- Un
ff
til
-
very big
the sha
dow- rules
the man,
Un til- I've
molto ff
54
rit. molto rit. A little faster rit.
V.
Cr.
will not think on it
a gain- And it
will go a
[Throughout the preceding, the Creature has comecloser; now it stands directly before Victor.]
way!
ff
-
drained your soul
And made it mine!
ff
I
p
am
very dark
be side
- you now.
molto
ff
subito p
More slowly than before; freely; always holding back the tempo rit. …a tempo… rit. …a tempo…
Cr.
And
pwith great sadness
when
you crept
in to- the cave
Of your de li
- ri- um
-
I al
ways- was near by.
-
Through the
pp
[col canto]
pp haltingly
espress.
…halting, painfully… …a tempo
poco rit. A tempo, a little faster…
Cr.
win
espress.
dow- of the inn
I saw you be
ing- fed And knew
from that The use
of bread.
And when
your friend
Ad dressed long
pp
55
… a little more slowly…
…getting faster……at a steadier tempo, poco allegro
Cr.
mo no- logues
- Toyour un hee
- ding- ears
I lis
tened- close andaped
The mo tions
despite the steadier tempo,the singer must phrase flexibly, with the words.
- of
his mouthTo sa
tis- fy- the
poco
mp
very intense
Cr.
hun ger- of my lips
For speech. Eat,
intense
he would
in sist,- And you
would eat.
…push the tempo…
…a tempo…
Cr.
But to be a ware
- of him, That you
would not, and so
He thought
him self- a lone
- And spoke
in per fect-
p warmly, intense
56
…rit.…
…rit.……A tempo, but more slowly
e = q
…poco rit.…
Cr.
con fi- dence—
-
f
To me!
Some how
- I
p
un
der
with great feeling
- stood- His talk
of
love,
Of
molto espress.
loy
al- ty,
- of
poco
poco
f
p
…a tempo… …push forward… …rit.
Cr.
sa
ppainfully
cri- fice—
-
And I'd go out
on to
- the fro
poco
zen- lake
And howl
his words:
"You are the cause,
f
E
-
p
poco
f
q = e
Freely; slowly
Cr.
li za- beth!"
-
From your ra
phrase with the words
vings,- Fran
[Distant thunder.]
ken- stein,- I learned
a dar ker-
mp
57
poco rit. A tempo
poco rit.
Cr.
lore:
That all
hearts are di vi
- ded- so, Mere pumps
that cause the blood
to flow.
,
A tempopocorit.… …a tempo…
…push forward…
V.
Victorp
Cra
ven- it was
In me to flee
As your flesh
con
-
p
intense
poco
…poco rit.… …a tempo…
…push forward… …a tempo…
…rit.…molto
x = e
V.
vulsed with life.
Long
[Thunder.]
had I gazed
on death's a byss.
- Why then should life
A wa- ken- hor
ror?- A
58
More slowly; flowing,but rather freely
V.
clim
ber,- at the peak
he's strained
To reach
can think of no
thing-
But the
p
V.
vast
ness-
o pened- to
his view.
So was it as
I moved
from height
to height
And
pocorfz
rit. A tempo
V.
held, with in- these hands,
The key
of life.
En rap
as if inspired
- tured- so,
how could
I
espress.
think
The gift of
poco
p
espress.
59
molto rit.A tempo, more slowly rit.
e = q
V.
Cr.
life could be be stowed
- Ex cept- to bless.
Un til
guiltily, in a soft voice
- I saw
Your gaze,
un til- I heard
Your—
Creature (angrily)
f
You
subito p
A tempo, more quickly
V.
Cr.
Victor (weakly)
All I
can do
To spare
you fur
ther- pain
I
fled!
p intense
77
60
poco rit. A tempo
V.
Cr.
shall.
Creature
All
you can
you shall
in deed!
-
This guil
ty- hand,
which I
could crush
Like
f
7
7
7
rit.
A tempo; more slowly
V.
Cr.
Victor (terrified)
f
What do you
ask?
bun
darkly
dled- sticks,
shall once
a gain
- take up
Its knife!
Kee
ner
- than hun
ger-
End less-
poco
mf
intense
pocorinf.
poco
61
hold back… A tempo
V.
Cr.
Victor (beginnning to guess the Creature's meaning)
p
De si
- re!-
As the cir
cling- of
my blood.
I
[looking at Victor, as if to acknowledge that Victor is right]
can
not- sleep,
Un til
- I'm gi
ven-
poco
V.
Cr.
helplessly
De si
-
[Thunder.]
re!
-
is kee
nest- When
it can not- be
ap peased.
-
Re
-
All I need.
f
mf
pochiss.
poco rinf.
mp
62
rit.
q (of the ritard) = h
Faster
V.
Cr.
sign
[Loud thunder.]
your self.
-
Creature (furious)
f
You
lie!
For I,
I
f
7
Cr.
I
Am my self
- the proof
That
ff
7 7
Cr.
what I ask
Is yours
to give.
passionately
Cre
f
ate—
-
less thanbefore
poco calando
7 7
63
molto rit.
Much more slowly
Cr.
mp
Cre
espress.
ate—
-
as
p
you
cre a
- ted- me
My fe
molto
male- coun
tutta forza
ter- part.
-
molto espress.
ff
Faster hold back… A tempo rit.
a little faster A tempo
q = h
V.
Cr.
Victor (terrified)f
Ne ever!-
By all
that's hu man,- ne
ver!-
Weak
Creature (scornfully)
ling!
parlando
-
Phi lo
- so- pher!-
You
poco
f meno f
ff
f
64
Faster, turbulent
Cr.
will
[drawing itself up to its full height]
cre ate
-
a wo
[Thunder. Lightning. The stormis at its height.]
man- limbed
With
f
f
Cr.
limbs
[indicating its own body]
like these.
Her face
de formed.
-
For
f
f
Cr.
I've
a right
to live
and lust,
And breed
like you.
f
f
65
rit.
Cr.
De
ny
menacing, with thegreatest possible intensity
- me,
molto
and
I'll
work
darkly, intense
at
your
de
-
mf
mf
molto
A tempo, slower rit.
Cr.
stru
ction
-
Till I de
so- late
- your heart.
ff
brutally
Freely, quasi cadenza
Cr.
We
will wait,
My la
dy- love
- and I,
Where at
my birth,
I was left
to die.
ff
tutta forza
[col canto]
66
Faster molto rit.
A tempo
V.
Victor (desperately)
If I
com ply,
-
It's for
your sake,
E li
- za- beth!
-
ff
poco
ff
rit.
poco
molto
ff
67