About the work
Uthal is a one-act opéra comique by Étienne-Nicolas Méhul, with a libretto by Jacques-Benjamin-Maximilien Bins de Saint-Victor based on James Macpherson's Ossian poems. It premiered on 17 May 1806 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.
Plot
Uthal has wrongfully seized the lands of his father-in-law Larmor, who sends the bard Ullin to ask the chieftain Fingal for help. Uthal's wife Malvina is torn between husband and father and cannot prevent the coming battle. When Uthal loses the fight and faces banishment, Malvina offers to follow him into exile — and he finally recognises his wrongdoing and is reconciled with Larmor.
Cultural significance
To give the subject a dark 'Scottish' sound, Méhul left out the violins altogether and replaced them with an enlarged, divided viola section. The innovation was controversial: Grétry is said to have joked that he would pay to hear a high string again. Praised as a succès d'estime but given only a short run, the work is now regarded as a notable sonic experiment between Gluck and Berlioz.