Edward Elgar : Caractacus- " Watchmen, alert! the King is here", David Wilson-Johnson

Sir Edwrd Elgar (1857-1934)

Caractacus Op. 35 . A cantata in six scenes for soprano, tenor, baritone and two bass soloists, full choir and orchestra.
Libretto by H A Acworth.

First performance in 1898

Eigen : Judith Howarth, soprano
Orbin : Arthur Davis, tenor
Caractacus : David Wilson-Johnson, baritone
Arch-Druid / A bard : Stephen Roberts, bass
Claudius : Alastair Miles, bass


London Symphony Chorus
(Stephen Westrop, chorus master)
London Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Richard Hickox

"According to legend, Caractacus, a British chieftain, had made his last stand against the Romans and been defected on the Malvern Hills. He and his soldiers were taken to Rome where the Emperor Claudius was so impressed by the British leader's eloquence that he spares and pardoned them. (1993 Michael Kennedy,CD Chandos)"

Scene I - British camp on the Malvern Hills, Night

2) Caractacus: "Watchmen, alert! the King is here,
Your weary brethren sluber near;
Well rest ye on your batter'd shields,
O heroes of a hundred fields;
(...)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• edward
• elgar
• caractacus
• british
• cantata
• watchmen
• alert
• judith
• howarth
• richard
• hickox
• operazaile

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