Eleanor of Aquitaine: Medieval women's lib in words and song
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Eleanoro f Aquitaine Submitted |
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By Jim Lowe Times Argus Staff - Published: November 21, 2008
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122?-1204) may well have been the greatest woman of the Middle Ages. In her 82 years she was born the Duchess of Aquitaine and Countess of Poitou, became Queen of France at age 15 through marriage to Louis VII, and later became Queen of England when she married Henry II. Considered one of the most desirable women of Europe, she contributed to some of the greatest political intrigues of the time, a story told in the play and feature film "The Lion in Winter."
WordStage Vermont, which brings history and literature to life through theater and music, will present "Flower and Hawk: Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Art of Courtly Love," on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Montpelier's T.W. Wood Gallery & Arts Center, and on Sunday, Nov. 30, at St. Paul's Cathedral in Burlington.
Hosted by actor Tim Tavcar, the entertainment will feature Carlisle Floyd's solo opera, "Flower and Hawk," with soprano Lisa Jablow and pianist Paula Ennis, as well as poetry and music of the time, presented by Tavcar and the Fyre and Lightning Duo.
"Eleanor's father and grandfather were schooled in the arts of music and poetry," explained Tavcar, WordStage's director. "Her grandfather, William IX, has been named by some historians as the first troubadour of Europe, setting everything from very romantic to very ribald poetry to music. That was passed down to Eleanor's father, William X, who educated her way beyond women of that day – in not only art, but the art of politics.
So she was very well read, knew music and was savvy in how to run a duchy," Tavcar said. "She was very headstrong and willful – and she was supposed to have been very beautiful."
Louis VII of France married the 15-year-old Eleanor, shortly before his accession to the throne, in 1137 in order to merge her considerable land holdings with his.
"The Aquitaine, at the time, extended from the Pyrenees in Spain almost to the Rhine in Germany," Tavcar said. "It actually dwarfed what was officially France."
Eleanor accompanied Louis on the Second Crusade (1147-49) and bore him two daughters. However, after that marriage was annulled in 1152, Eleanor married Henry, duke of Normandy and the court of Anjou, combining their lands. When Henry ascended the British throne two years later, a struggle between French and English kings began that was to continue for centuries.
The marriage was not a happy one and, with Henry's legendary infidelity with Rosamond, Eleanor established her own court at Poitiers. Here, she schemed with her sons – including the Richard who was to become Richard the Lionhearted, and John, who was to plot against the said Richard – to overthrow Henry.
When the revolt failed, Eleanor was imprisoned by Henry. And this is where Floyd's opera, "Flower and Hawk," what he called a "monodrama," takes place. The title comes from her seal, now in the Louvre, in which she stands holding a hawk in one hand and a flower in the other, suggesting a dualility in her character that is invoked in this work. The composer and librettist of the hit "Susannah," Floyd wrote the libretto for this as well.
The action takes place in Salisbury Tower, where Eleanor has been a prisoner for nearly 16 years. Overcome by feelings of despair, she considers killing herself, but instead resolves to distract herself by recalling happier times.
"It's Floyd's encapsulation of the highlights of her life – including her marriage to Louis, her affair with one of the troubadours at court, her marriage to Henry, the death of Richard the Lionhearted, her favorite child," Tavcar said. "It ends with the tolling bells, which she mistakes as the bells tolling her death – but they're tolling Henry's death."
Finally, Eleanor is able to re-assume her role as queen.
The 45-minute opera was written for soprano Phyllis Curtin, the original Susannah, who premiered it in 1972 in Jacksonville, Fla.
"The music alternates between extreme lyricism and, I would say, angular. It very much paints the text of the libretto," Tavcar said. "The piano reduction is by Floyd himself."
"Courtly Love" is the subject of the first half of the program, featuring Eleanor's contributions to the development of the gentle arts. In 1168, she left the court of Henry and took up residence in her ancestral lands at Poitiers. Eleanor's court drew vassals paying homage, squires training to be knights, young ladies acquiring their education, and visiting future kings and queens related by blood or marriage. Because she was a woman of renowned beauty, charm and style as well as extraordinary wit and iron will, the poets, musicians, philosophers, artists and literati flocked around her. It was out of this heady mix of royalty and romance that the movement of "courtly love" emerged.
"This part of the program is built on quotes about her by contemporary chroniclers and poetry of the troubadours," Tavcar said.
Some of that poetry will be read by Tavcar, while music and songs of the era will be performed by the Fyre and Lightning Duo – Kathy and Steve Light – with various medieval instruments.
It seems that Eleanor of Aquitaine is one woman who never let men get in her way.
"You name the adjective that's been applied to women, and it's been applied to her!" Tavcar said with a laugh.
WordStage Vermont maintains a "pay what you can" policy in order to make performances available to as many people as are interested in attending. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling (802) 223-1279.