Helvellyn is an opera in four acts by George Alexander Macfarren to an English libretto by John Oxenford from Salomon Mosenthal's play Der Sonnwendhof.

[1] Finally after 162 years of absence from the theatrical scene, Macfarren's Helvellyn return on the Royal Opera House for the season 2025/26.

The opera is set in Mabel's farm on the eastern slopes of Helvellyn in the English Lake District, and in the nearby village.

In an unusual overture, farm workers and local inhabitants are heard in the distance singing a curse on evil and on the unknown person who started a devastating fire.

Steenie launches into a tale about the foundry being set on fire; Ralph a good but surly worker, had been unfairly chastised by the master and had sworn revenge.

The farm owner, Mabel, a widow, arrives and reminds everyone that they must sleep well tonight because the harvest will continue tomorrow.

Right on cue, Martin arrives and sings a jolly song of blessing to honest labour, to the harvest and to the fruitful soil.

Mabel hushes him up, and then has a shiver of foreboding as she remembers Luke, her husband's brother, who had worked at the foundry ten years ago, but after the fire, he had disappeared under his father's curse and has not been seen since.

Martin suggests that he might be dead by now, but Mabel replies that whenever she thinks about how well the farm is doing, she remembers Luke, and her happiness is spoiled.

It is Luke, singing cheerfully of his life as a beggar in London – he announces that he has returned home to claim his rightful inheritance now that his brother, Mabel's husband, has died.

Steenie just grumbles that he should have been left in charge, but Mabel's parting words are that there should be no jealousy and that Martin has her full confidence.

He recalls the time that he dared to aspire to the hand of the master's daughter, and how the fire in the foundry ensued, and old Ralph got the blame.

The farmhands are heard outside singing a harvest song, and Hannah uses the distraction to grab a reaping hook and threatens to use it on Luke is he continues to pursue her.

The happy harvesters arrive hauling a laden handcart, on top of which is Martin (no Health and Safety had reached the remote slopes of Helvellyn yet).

Martin tells everyone that their mistress would be happy to see them all so cheerful, but Steenie mutters about a younger man having pride of place and about every dog having his day.

Luke has joined the group, and he announces that as their late master's brother, he should by rights be leading the harvest celebrations.

He encourages everyone to drink well, repeats the toast to their mistress, and then turns down Martin's proposal that they should all dance, suggesting instead that he has a tale to relate.

He tells them all that he saw Hannah giving milk away and Steenie seizes the opportunity to declare that he knew all along that she is no good and that they do not welcome thieves.

As the workers comment that Steenie's constant unpleasantness always ruins their pleasures, Mabel returns and asks Martin to tell her what is going on.

Steenie is shocked, and Mabel goes on to tell Hannah that she too will be banished to live in a shepherd's hut on the high slopes of the mountain and tend the sheep there.

They all contemplate the situation – a long-time workmate who has served the farm all his life has been dismissed; Martin observes that Steenie was beginning to act as if he owned the place.

She replies that she had obtained a copy of her husband's will leaving everything to her, and that she intends to give Luke a sum of money to help him to end his vagrant ways.

Mabel and Martin together are equally determined to live in peace, but they recognise the obvious danger that Luke represents.

Luke repeats his threat, raises his fist and then, as he leaves, unseen by Mabel and Martin, he grabs the purse of money.

The girls tell Hannah, rather bizarrely, that she can have a tranquil life there, away from the world and its troubles, with only the tinkling of the sheep's bells to remind her when it is time to rest.

As the girls leave, Hannah accepts all this, commenting that she seems to have lived all her life in a state of loneliness, and that here the peace of the mountain will enable her aching heart to rejoice.

On the following morning, down on the estate, the church bell is tolling and all the workers are gathering for the service and commenting on what a nice day it is.

They exchange gossip, the women commenting that Mabel is going to marry again, and the men telling one another what a lucky fellow Martin is.

There is a convenient cliff right next to the barn, and she prepares to throw herself off it when, suddenly, a shaft of bright sunlight breaks through the grey clouds.

There is a flash of lightning and Luke calls exultantly on the power of the storm to guide his vengeful hand.