William Bergsma: Scenes from "The Wife of Martin Guerre"

A sort of Reader's Digest version of Bergsma's opera in three acts based on the strange story of Martin Guerre, a sixteenth-century tale of a husband lost and refound, or perhaps not? Artfully sung by Mary Judd as Bertrande, the titular wife, the cast is capable and clear. The chamber orchestra gets special mention for its great transparency and brilliance, especially the solo work of the great Robert Nagel on trumpet. The first public performance of The Wife of Martin Guerre was given by the Juilliard Opera Theater February 15, 1956, under the direction of Frederic Cohen, Frederic Waldman conducting. The Story of the Opera In 1548, Martin Guerre, a young peasant of the village of Artigues in southern France, left his wife, Bertrande, and their infant son in order to evade the anger of his father over a minor theft. He planned to be gone only a week. Eight years, however, elapsed before his family had any news of him. Then, as far as his family could judge, he returned, improved by th