HEDDA GABLER. Chamber Opera by Marc Stauch (b. 1967) in Four Acts

[An electronic realisation of Act II (music and text) can be found at: https://youtu.be/LANp3hUNDyw]

Libretto – adapted by the Composer from the Henrik Ibsen Play (in the English translation from the Danish original by Edmund Gosse and William Archer)

– ACT II

11. Instrumental Prelude

Scene: The rooms at the TESMANS'. It is afternoon. HEDDA, dressed to receive callers, is alone in the front room examining a pistol.

12. Duet: Hedda, Judge Brack

HEDDA [Looks through the door to the garden and calls]. So you are here again, Judge! BRACK [Calls from offstage left]. As you see, Mrs. Tesman! HEDDA. [Pointing pistol through the doorway]. Now I'll shoot you, Judge Brack! BRACK. No, no! Don't stand aiming at me! HEDDA. This is what comes of sneaking in by the back way. [She fires]. BRACK. [Still offstage, but closer] Are you out of your senses–-! HEDDA. Dear me–did I happen to hit you? BRACK. I wish you would let these pranks alone! HEDDA. Come in then, Judge. BRACK. [Enters by garden door] What the deuce–haven't you tired of that sport, yet? What are you shooting at? HEDDA. Oh, I am only firing in the air. BRACK. Allow me, madam! [Gently taking the pistol] Ah–I know this pistol well! Where is the case? Now we won't play at that game any more to-day. HEDDA. Then what in heaven's name would you have me do with myself? BRACK. Have you had no visitors? HEDDA. Not one. I suppose our set are still out of town. BRACK. And is Tesman not at home either? HEDDA. No. He rushed off to his aunt's directly after lunch; he is not likely to be back for some time yet. BRACK. Never mind; I shall not be impatient. [A short silence. They look at each other.] HEDDA. Well? BRACK. Well? HEDDA. I spoke first. BRACK. Not a day has passed but that I have wished you here again. HEDDA. And I have done nothing but wish the same thing. BRACK. You? Really, Mrs. Hedda? And I thought you had been enjoying your tour so much. Tesman's letters spoke of nothing but happiness. HEDDA. Oh, Tesman! He thinks nothing so delightful as grubbing in old libraries. But I, oh my dear Mr. Brack, how mortally bored I have been. You should just try it. To hear of nothing but the history of civilisation, morning, noon, and night–- BRACK. Everlastingly. HEDDA. Yes, yes, yes. And then all this about the domestic industry of the middle ages; that's the most disgusting part of it. BRACK. But tell me–in that case, how am I to understand your–-? H'm–- HEDDA. My accepting George Tesman, you mean? BRACK. Well, let us put it so. HEDDA. Good heavens, do you see anything so curious in that? …. I had positively danced myself tired, my day was done–- Oh no, I won't say that, nor think it either! –- BRACK. You assuredly have no reason to. HEDDA. Oh, reasons. –And then, since he was bent on being allowed to provide for me. It was than my other adorers were prepared to do, my dear Judge. BRACK. Well, as for myself, all I require is a pleasant and intimate interior, where I am free to come and go as a trusted friend–- HEDDA. Of the master of the house, do you mean? BRACK. Frankly–of the mistress first of all; but of course the master too, in the second place. Such a triangular friendship– if I may call it so–is really a great convenience for all the parties. [Hears front door and glances towards hall.] The triangle is completed. [GEORGE TESMAN enters from the hall. He has a number of books under his arm]

13. Quartet: Hedda, Berta, Tesman, Judge Brack

TESMAN. … Hallo–are you there already, my dear Judge? Eh? Berta didn't tell me. BRACK. I came in through the garden. HEDDA. What books have you got there? TESMAN. Some new books on my special subjects –quite indispensible to me. Has no message come from Eilert Lövborg, eh? HEDDA. No. TESMAN. Then you'll see he'll be here presently. [BERTA appears at the hall door.] BERTA. There's a gentleman asking if you are at home, ma'am–- [EILERT LÖVBORG enters from the hall. He stops and makes a rapid bow, seeming embarrassed.]

14. Quartet: Hedda, Tesman, Lövborg, Judge Brack

TESMAN. Well, my dear Eilert, so at last we meet again! EILERT LÖVBORG. Thanks for your letter, Tesman. Will you too shake hands with me, Mrs. Tesman? HEDDA. I am glad to see you, Mr. Lövborg. I don't know whether you two gentlemen–-? LÖVBORG. Judge Brack, I think. TESMAN. And now you must make yourself entirely at home, Eilert! Mustn't he, Hedda? For I hear you are going to settle in town again, eh? LÖVBORG. Yes, I am. TESMAN. Quite right, quite right. Let me tell you, I have got hold of your new book; but I haven't had time to read it yet. LÖVBORG. You may spare yourself the trouble. – But when this one appears, George Tesman, you will have to read it. For this is the real book –the book I have put my true self into. –I brought it, thinking I might read you a little this evening. BRACK. Hmm, I must tell you, Mr. Lövborg–there is a little gathering at my house this evening. LÖVBORG. Oh–then I won't detain you–- BRACK. No, but will you not do me the favour of joining us? LÖVBORG. No, I can't–thank you very much. BRACK. Oh, nonsense–do! TESMAN. Yes, Eilert, why shouldn't you, eh? HEDDA. But, Tesman, if Mr. Lövborg would really rather not. I am sure Mr. Lövborg is much more inclined to remain here and have supper with me. LÖVBORG. With you, Mrs. Tesman? HEDDA. And with Mrs. Elvsted. LÖVBORG. Ah–- I saw her for a moment this morning. HEDDA. Did you? Well, she is coming this evening. So you will be able to see her home. LÖVBORG. That's true. Many thanks, Mrs. Tesman–in that case I will remain. TESMAN. They told me at the bookseller's that you are going to deliver a course of lectures this autumn. LÖVBORG. That is my intention. I hope you won't take it ill, Tesman. …But, I shall wait till you have received your appointment. TESMAN. Will you wait? …but–are you not going to compete with me, eh? LÖVBORG. No; it is only the moral victory I care for. TESMAN. Why, bless me– Hedda! Just fancy– Eilert Lövborg is not going to stand in our way. HEDDA. Our way? Pray leave me out of the question. [She gestures towards the inner room where BERTA has placed a drinks tray] Will you not take a glass of cold punch, gentlemen? TESMAN. A capital idea, Hedda! Just the thing! Now that the weight has been taken off my mind–- HEDDA. Will you not join them, Mr. Lövborg? LÖVBORG. No, thank you. Nothing for me. HEDDA. I will keep Mr. Lövborg company in the meantime. TESMAN. Yes, yes, Hedda dear, do. [He and BRACK go into the inner room.]

15. Duet (Trio): Hedda, (Tesman), Lövborg

HEDDA. Do you care to look at some photographs, Mr. Lövborg? You know Tesman and I made a tour in the Tyrol on our way home? LÖVBORG. Hedda–Gabler! HEDDA. Ah, hush! LÖVBORG. Hedda Gabler! HEDDA. That was my name in the old days, when we two knew each other. LÖVBORG. Hedda Gabler married? And married to George Tesman? HEDDA. Yes, so the world goes. LÖVBORG. Oh, Hedda, Hedda–how could you throw yourself away? HEDDA. What? I can't allow this! LÖVBORG. What do you mean? HEDDA [Hears TESMAN returning]. And this is a view from the Val d'Ampezzo, Mr. Lövborg. Just look at these peaks! TESMAN. Hedda, dear, I only wanted to ask if I shouldn't bring you a little punch after all? For yourself at any rate, eh? HEDDA. Yes, do, please; and perhaps a few biscuits. [TESMAN goes into inner room and out to the right.] LÖVBORG. Answer me, Hedda–how could you go and do this? HEDDA. If you continue to say 'Hedda' to me I won't talk to you. LÖVBORG. Ah, I understand. It is an offence against George Tesman, whom you love. HEDDA. Love? What an idea! LÖVBORG. You don't love him then! HEDDA. But I won't hear of any sort of unfaithfulness! Remember that. LÖVBORG. Hedda–answer me one thing–- HEDDA. Hush! [TESMAN enters with a tray from the inner room.] TESMAN. Here you are! Isn't this tempting? HEDDA. Why do you bring it yourself? TESMAN. Because I think it's such fun to wait upon you, Hedda. [Rejoins BRACK in the inner room.] HEDDA. Well? LÖVBORG. Was there no love in your friendship for me either? Not a spark–not a tinge of love in it? HEDDA. I wonder if there was? To me it seems as though we were two good comrades. You especially were frankness itself. LÖVBORG. It was you that made me so. HEDDA. As I look back upon it all, I think there was really something beautiful, something fascinating, something daring in that secret intimacy, that comradeship which no living creature so much as dreamed of. LÖVBORG. Yes, Hedda, and when I made my confessions to you, told you things that at that time no one else knew! There I would sit and tell you of my escapades–my days and nights of devilment. Oh, Hedda, what was the power in you that forced me to confess these things? But tell me now, Hedda, was there not love at the bottom of our friendship? On your side, did you not feel as though you might purge my stains away, if I made you my confessor? Was it not so? HEDDA. No, not quite. LÖVBORG. Comradeship in the thirst for life. But why should not that, at any rate, have continued? HEDDA. The fault was yours. LÖVBORG. It was you that broke with me. HEDDA. Yes, when our friendship threatened to develop into something more serious. Shame upon you, Eilert Lövborg! How could you think of wronging your frank comrade. LÖVBORG. Oh, why did you not carry out your threat? Why did you not shoot me down? HEDDA. Because I have such a dread of scandal. LÖVBORG. Yes, Hedda, you are a coward at heart. HEDDA. A terrible coward. But it was a lucky thing for you. And now you have found ample consolation at the Elvsteds'. [MRS. ELVSTED enters from the hall. The door is closed behind her.

16. Trio: Hedda, Mrs Elvsted, Lövborg

HEDDA. My sweet Thea, you can't think how I have been longing for you! MRS. ELVSTED. Ought I to go in and talk to your husband for a moment? HEDDA. Oh, not at all. Leave those two alone. They will soon be going. MRS. ELVSTED. Are they going out? HEDDA. Yes, to a supper-party. MRS. ELVSTED. Not you? LÖVBORG. No. HEDDA. Mr. Lövborg remains with us. MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, how nice it is here! LÖVBORG. Is she not lovely to look at? HEDDA. Only to look at? LÖVBORG. Yes. For we two–she and I–we are two real comrades. We have absolute faith in each other; so we can sit and talk with perfect frankness–- MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, how happy I am, Hedda! For only think, he says I have inspired him too. HEDDA. Ah! Does he say that, dear? LÖVBORG. And then she is so brave, Mrs. Tesman! HEDDA. Ah, yes—courage, if one only had that! LÖVBORG. What then? What do you mean? HEDDA. Then life would perhaps be liveable, after all! [Changing her tone.] But now, my dearest Thea, you really must have a glass of cold punch. MRS. ELVSTED. No, thanks–I never take anything of that kind. HEDDA. Well then, you, Mr. Lövborg. LÖVBORG. Nor I, thank you. HEDDA. Then I, poor creature, have no sort of power over you. But seriously, I think you ought to, for your own sake. MRS. ELVSTED. Why, Hedda–-! LÖVBORG. How so? HEDDA. Otherwise people might be apt to suspect that–in your heart of hearts–you did not feel quite secure–quite confident in yourself. I saw it plainly in Judge Brack's face a moment ago. LÖVBORG. What did you see? HEDDA. His contemptuous smile, when you dared not go with them into the inner room. LÖVBORG. Dared not? Of course I preferred to stop here and talk to you. MRS. ELVSTED. Yes, what could be more natural, Hedda? HEDDA. And I say, too, the way he smiled and glanced at Tesman when you dared not accept his invitation to this wretched little supper-party of his. LÖVBORG. I will stay here with you and Thea. MRS. ELVSTED. Yes, Hedda, how can you doubt that? HEDDA. Firm as a rock! Faithful to your principles, now and for ever! Ah! That is how a man should be! [To MRS ELVSTED] Well now, what did I tell you, when you came to us this morning in such a state of distraction–- LÖVBORG. Distraction! MRS. ELVSTED. Hedda–oh Hedda–-! HEDDA. You can see for yourself, you haven't the slightest reason to be in such ‘mortal terror’–- There, now we can all three enjoy ourselves. LÖVBORG. Ah–what is all this, Mrs. Tesman? MRS. ELVSTED. Oh my God, Hedda! What are you saying? What are you doing? HEDDA. Don't get excited! That horrid Judge Brack is sitting watching you. LÖVBORG. So she was in mortal terror on my account! MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, Hedda–now you have ruined everything! LÖVBORG. So that was my comrade's frank confidence in me. MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, my dearest friend–only let me tell you–- LÖVBORG. Your health, Thea! [Empties a glass of punch.] MRS. ELVSTED Oh, Hedda, Hedda–how could you do this? HEDDA. I do it? Are you crazy? LÖVBORG. Here's to your health too, Mrs. Tesman. Thanks for the truth. Hurrah for the truth! [He empties a second glass, but is restrained by HEDDA from refilling it.] HEDDA. Come, come–no more for the present. Remember you are going out to supper. MRS. ELVSTED. No, no, no! [BRACK has in the meantime looked at his watch. He and TESMAN rise and come into the drawing-room.]

17. Quintet: Hedda, Mrs Elvsted, Tesman, Lövborg, Judge Brack

BRACK. Well, Mrs. Tesman, our time has come. LÖVBORG. Mine too, Judge Brack. MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, Lövborg, don't do it! LÖVBORG. You were good enough to invite me, Judge Brack. BRACK. Well, are you coming after all? LÖVBORG. Yes, many thanks. BRACK. I'm delighted–- LÖVBORG. [To TESMAN.] I should like to show you one or two things before I send it to the printers. TESMAN. Fancy, that will be delightful. But, Hedda dear, how is Mrs. Elvsted to get home, eh? LÖVBORG. Mrs. Elvsted? Of course, I'll come again and fetch her. At ten or thereabouts, Mrs. Tesman? Will that do? HEDDA. Certainly. That will do capitally. MRS. ELVSTED. Well then, Mr. Lövborg, I shall remain here until you come. BRACK. And now off goes the excursion train, gentlemen! I hope we shall have a lively time … [BRACK, LÖVBORG, and TESMAN go out by the hall door.]

18. Duet: Hedda, Mrs Elvsted

MRS. ELVSTED. Hedda– Hedda–what will come of all this? HEDDA. At ten o'clock–he will be here. I can see him already–with vine-leaves in his hair–flushed and fearless–- MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, I hope he may. HEDDA. And then, you see– he will have regained control over himself. Then he will be a free man for all his days. MRS. ELVSTED. You have some hidden motive in this, Hedda! HEDDA. Yes, I have. I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny. MRS. ELVSTED. Have you not the power? HEDDA. I have not–and have never had it. MRS. ELVSTED. Not your husband's? HEDDA. Do you think that is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only understand how poor I am. And fate has made you so rich! I think I must burn your hair off after all!

[End of 2nd Act]