Composed to his own libretto over nearly a decade from the mid1880s, this arthurian opera was never performed in the. Premiere may or june 1691, london dorset garden theatre cast philadel soprano grimbald bass baritone. The principal charactersarthur, merlin, arthurs sweetheart emmeline, various saxon villainsdo not sing, because restoration audiences wouldnt have understood such a thing. In some cases also texts of other vocal pieces similar to operas are included. King arthur is the great patriotic opera of the seventeenth century depicting the battles between king arthur s britons and saxons. A harmonious collection of scenes, not overlycomplicated, unlike so many other nonsensical librettos that take from romances or mythic sources like, say, quinaults or the many adaptations of orlando furioso. Premiere may or june 1691, london dorset garden theatre cast philadel soprano grimbald bass baritone shepherd tenor cupid soprano cold genius bass aeolus bass baritone venus soprano chorus sheperds and shepherdesses, soldiers, spirits, satyrs etc. Dido and aeneas 1683 english libretto german translation spanish translation. The shining opera the shining is an american opera in two acts and an epilogue, with music by composer paul moravec and a libretto by mark campbell, based on the 1977 novel the shining by. Gordon from left, marc molomot, darryl taylor, jamie chamberlin, cedric. This can be explained by the generous proportion of spoken dialogue. This is an index of libretto pages in the internet known to me.
Libretto henry purcell king arthur or the british worthy. King arthur by laurence binyon, with music by edward elgar 1923 king arthur by d. A semi opera is an unusual form of early opera that was halfsung and halfspoken. Based on a true story, the lighthouse is a haunting opera with an atmospheric score by the lauded english composer peter maxwell davies. The original title of the opera was restored, but no former libretto was adopted, although. This rarely performed masterpiece by chausson was written for the opera garnier and here it is, well over a century after its. Turandot 1926 italian libretto portuguese translation spanish translation german translation english translation french translation. Program notes by phillip huscher henry purcell suite from king arthur born sometime in 1659, place unknown.
It was first performed at the queens theatre, dorset garden, london, in late may or early june 1691 the plot is based on the battles between king arthur s britons and the saxons, rather than the legends of camelot although merlin does make an appearance. King arthur has secured all of his kingdom except kent in the course of the battles with the saxons. The collaboration of the poet john dryden and henry purcell marked a conspicuous leap forward for english opera. Libretto of the semiopera king arthur by henry purcell. It was first performed at the queens theatre, dorset garden. Act one prelude scene one a great hall in arthur s palace at carlisle. This gifted, often highly individual musician died four years before his only completed opera, le roi arthus, was given its premiere in brussels, in 1903. Dryden s opera of king arthur was written by henry purcell in 1843. Bridson, with music by benjamin britten 1937 camelot by alan jay lerner and frederick loewe 1960. Suite from king arthur purcell composed his semi opera king arthur.
First produced at the opera comique, london, on saturday, 23d april, 1881, under the management of mr. Early on, projections of comic book graphics and superhero dolls provide a lite, enjoyable aesthetic. Arthur, king of the britons, and oswald, king of the saxons, battle for love and power. Long beach opera s comic book king arthur fights off alien invaders january 14, 2020 12. Their greatest project, king arthur, is a fiveact dramatick opera, the text of which had its origins in a patriotic musical play dryden had written in 1684 but which he radically overhauled. An entirely original comic opera in two acts, entitled the. The new king arthur, an opera without music classic. Long beach operas comic book king arthur fights off. Even in john drydens libretto, there is little of sir thomas malorys 1485 excalibur legend, le morte d arthur, which was popularized by t.
It is based on the king arthur legend as adapted from the t. Conceptually, king arthur is at its best when most playful. Full of brilliant dance music and beautiful songs, this 1691 setting of. King arthur or the british worthy semi opera in five acts. As isaline claeys explains in her brief but helpful liner notes. In act 1 there is a sacrificial scene, in which saxon priests and. King arthur opera project gutenberg selfpublishing. Posted in king arthur on stage, king arthur s children, tagged amr, arthurian literature, arthurian opera, arthurian opera cycle, celtic literature, choral oratorio, folk song, glastonbury music festival, gwydre, king arthur. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Siegfried and the twilight of the gods, by richard wagner, trans.
At stake are england and the love of the blind emmeline. The massive redbrick walls are covered with tapestries, and the floor is strewn with cut reeds. Chaussons operatic rarity le roi arthus deserves clarity not banality. For prating so long, like a booklearnd sot, till pudding and dumpling are. An entirely original comic opera in two acts, entitled the gondoliers, or, the king of barataria. With the aid of merlin, his magician, arthur succeeds in driving oswald and his men back as far as kent. Much of king arthur is driven by the fight for emmelines love or at least possession by arthur and oswald. Its about the love affair between tristan, a breton nobleman, and isolde, an irish princess betrothed to marke, the king of cornwall.
Libretto henry purcell king arthur or the british worthy oper. Dancers in mark morriss production of king arthur at new york city opera, with music by henry purcell and a libretto by john dryden, at the new york state theater. The musical sections of purcells semi opera form interludes within the main action mostly at the ends of each of the acts of drydens text. The plot is based on the battles between king arthur s britons and the saxons, rather than the legends of camelot although merlin does make an appearance. This is a 92 page book, containing 5982 words and 81 pictures. No cards libretto, score for a later version, and commentary, by w.
Chaussons operatic rarity le roi arthus deserves clarity. Gilbert, thomas german reed, and florian pascal pdf and word at gilbert and sullivan archive the ring of the nibling. In some cases we have included scores of operatic works, mainly for most important works, or if a libretto. Long beach opera opens its new season by turning purcell s king arthur into a mishmash superhero opera, starring the commanding bass baritone cedric berry. King arthur has a libretto by john dryden tailored specifically to purcells musical strengths. First act bass woden, first to thee a milkwhite steed, in battle won, we have sacrificd. King arthur, henry purcell and john drydens fiveact semi opera from 1690, is a work seldom seen on opera stages. They are ordered by composer and name of the opera. Molomots whininess amuses, and chamberlins unbounded leap into showy vocal gymnastics from an unrelated opera. Tenor let our next oblation be to thor, thy thundring son. Their greatest project, king arthur, is a fiveact dramatick opera, the text of which had. King arthur complete opera henry purcell best version. Away to the cheating world go you, where pirates all are welltodo.
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