The Waning of Victorian Imperialism: Stylistic Dualism in Gustav Holst's One-Act Opera Sāvitri (1908-9)

Gustav Holst's one-act opera Sāvitri (1908-9) represents a turning point in his compositional style, which came at a significant time in British history. Holst combines a simpler style informed by his work with English folksong with the Wagnerian style that permeated his earlier compositions. Although influenced by a British imperialist view of the world, Sāvitri renders Hindu-Indian culture in positive terms without relying on the purely exotic, offers a perspective on gender relationships that does not depend solely on convention, and presents the commoner as the British ideal rather than romanticizing the aristocracy. The result is an opera subtle in its complexity, approaching the profound themes of love, death, and spirituality with emotional restraint and self-control.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2005

Author dc:creator

• Broughton, Joseph Earl

Contributors dc:contributor

• Notley, Margaret Anne
• Hayes, Eileen M.
• Bush, Deanna D.

• Holst, Gustav, 1874-1934. Savitri.
• gender relationships
• Hinduism
• British identity
• imperialism
• colonialism

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Broughton, Joseph Earl
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 63178263
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4787/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc4787

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc4787