description Nicolas de Flue Overview
Nicolas de Flue is a secular oratorio by Arthur Honegger, written in 1940 for the Swiss National Exhibition. The work concerns Nicholas of Flüe, the fifteenth-century Swiss hermit, mystic, and national patron, and uses his life and reputation as a framework for a broader Swiss historical and civic subject. It belongs to Honegger’s twentieth-century choral output and was composed for large-scale public performance rather than a liturgical service.
help Nicolas de Flue FAQ
Who was Nicolas de Flue, the subject of Honegger's oratorio?
Nicolas de Flue, also known as Nicholas of Flüe, was a fifteenth-century Swiss hermit, mystic, and national patron. The work uses his life and reputation as a way to reflect on Swiss history and identity.
When and why did Arthur Honegger write Nicolas de Flue?
Arthur Honegger wrote the secular oratorio around 1940 for the Swiss National Exhibition period. It was intended as a large public work about a Swiss historical figure, not simply as a church service setting.
Is Nicolas de Flue a sacred oratorio?
It is usually described as a secular oratorio, even though its central figure is a religious mystic. The score uses chorus, narrator, and orchestra to connect Nicholas's life with broader scenes from Swiss history.
Who supplied the text for Nicolas de Flue?
The libretto was written by Denis de Rougemont. Honegger's music supports a dramatic historical narrative through choral writing, narration, and orchestral episodes rather than through operatic stage action.
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