Gloriana Part 1: ACT 1 Sc i

This production, by Colin Graham, first saw the light in 1966 and was revived in 1984 for the ENO tour of the USA which culminated with two ecstatically received performances at The Met.

GLORIANA
Benjamin Britten
Libretto by William Plomer

Queen Elizabeth I - Sarah Walker
Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
Frances, Countess of Essex - Jean Rigby
Sir Walter Raleigh - Richard van Allan
Penelope, Lady Rich - Elizabeth Vaughan
Sir Robert Cecil - Alan Opie
Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy - Neil Howlett
Henry Cuffe - Malcolm Donnelly
Lady-in-Waiting - Lynda Russell
A Blind Ballad Singer - Norman Bailey
The Recorder of Norwich - Dennis Wicks
A Housewife - Shelagh Squires
Master of Ceremonies - Alan Woodrow
A Morris Dancer - Robert Huguenim
The City Cryer - Leigh Maurice
The Spirit of the Masque - Adrian Martin
Time - Ian Stewart
Concord - Amanda Maxwell

Directed for the stage by Colin Graham
Directed for TV by Derek Bailey
Chorus and Orchestra of the English National Opera
Conducted by Mark Elder

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sarah
• Walker
• Opera
• Gloriana
• ENO
• Britten
• Elizabeth

[rakewell2]

oh my, the entire production! thank you so much! looove this!

[cheffings]

Well, not quite the whole lot but a goodly portion - and I've still got to get to grips with the last act!

[Pierlover]

I remember seeing the first night of this production - Britten himself was there and he was the first living composer I had ever seen. I was about 15 at the time and had no interest in opera whatsoever - it all changed that night - and now I have had over 30 years working in opera. So, thank you, Gloriana

[lahgbr]

This is brilliant - so good to see it again! I saw it at Sadlers Wells when I was at school, and later twice at the Coliseum. It's grown to be one of my favourite Britten operas.The scene at the end of Act 1, when Elizabeth is alone and prays is just so incredibly powerful and moving! Nothing in more recent opera remotely compares to what Britten could achieve. Thanks for posting this.