Britten Thematic Catalogue
Beta Version
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Originally Op. 52, which became the opus number of Winter words.
See Act I sc. 2, no. 5, and Act III sc. 3, nos 7 and 8 for further details [not currently available]
Joan Cross Queen Elizabeth the first, Peter Pears Earl of Essex, Monica Sinclair Lady Essex, Geraint Evans Lord Mountjoy, Jennifer Vyvyan Lady Rich, Arnold Matters Cecil, Frederick Dalberg Raleigh, Ronald Lewis Cuffe, Adèle Leigh Lady-in-waiting, Inia Te Wiata Blind ballad singer, Michael Langdon The Recorder of Norwich, Edith Coates A housewife, William McAlpine Spirit of the masque, David tree Master of ceremonies, Rhydderch Davies City crier, Covent Garden Opera Chorus, Covent Garden Orchestra
Basil Coleman prod, John Piper design, John Cranko choreog, Douglas Robinson chorus master, John Pritchard cond
Also incorporates the text of a song by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (1565-1601).
Cast and orchestra
Principals: Queen Elizabeth the First sop, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex ten, Frances, Countess of Essex mez, Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy bar, penelope, Lady Rich sop, Blind ballad winger bass, The Recorder of Norwich bass, A housewife mez, Spirit of the masque ten, Master of ceremonies ten, City crier bar
Chorus: Citizens, Maids of honour, Ladies and Gentlemen of the household, courtiers, Masquers, Old men, Men and boys of Essex's following, Councillors
Dancers: Time, Concord, Country girls, Rustics, Fishermen, Morris dancer
Actors: Pages, Ballad-singer's runner, Phantom of Queen Elizabeth
Musicians on stage: State trumpeters, Dance orchestra, Pipe and tabor, Gittern, Drummer
Orchestra: 3 fl (II, III=picc), 2 ob, ca, 2 cl in B flat & A, bass cl, 2 bn, dbn - 4 hn, 3 tpt in C, 3 trbn, tuba - timp, 4 perc (glock, trgl, wb, tamb, sd, td, bd, cymb, t-t, whip, bells in D, E, F, G, A, B flat, C - harp - str
Stage instruments: Act I sc. 1, on stage: tpt in multiples of three; Act II sc. 3, on stage: 5 str and/or 5 ww (scored ad lib.), pipe and tabor (small side drum without snares; Act III sc. 2, on stage: gittern, drum; off stage: sd (several); Act III sc. 3, on stage: harp; off stage: sd, bd, cymb, wind machine.
Act I: 42 mins;
Act II: 50 mins;
Act III: 56 mins
Scene: England in the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Time: The later years of her reign, which lasted from 1558 to 1603.
Britten also arranged a Symphonic suite from the opera (Sep-Dec 1953), and prepared 'Choral dances' and 'Fanfare' in early 1967 for the opening of The Snape Maltings Concert Hall by HM the Queen.