As with the other church parables, the instrumental forces are very modest: flute, horn, viola, double bass, harp, organ and percussion, with the use of the alto flute and small trumpet in D marking changes compared to the other works. The percussion also incorporates a gourd rattle.[4]
Gerald Beauchamp, Michael Butler, Jonathan Fox, Richard Hopkins, David Rookwood
Chorus: Servants, Parasites, and Beggars
Synopsisedit
The story centers on a farm family, which consists of a father and his two sons. Servants also help with working the land. The elder son and the servants leave to work the fields for the day. The younger son hears a voice that tempts him to indulge his "most secret longings". The younger son asks his father for his inheritance, which the father grants. The younger son makes his way to the city. There, he is deprived of his fortune and left penniless. The younger son then returns home and asks his father's forgiveness. His father receives his younger son with rejoicing, but the elder son is initially angry at his father's reaction, after he himself has loyally worked the fields. The father rebukes his elder son, and asks him to be reconciled to his younger brother, who has returned to restore the family.
Recordingsedit
Britten and Viola Tunnard directed the first recording of the work, for the Decca label (original listing, Decca SET 438) with the premiere's cast and players.[6] The full cast of singers is:
Chorus of Servants, Parasites and Beggars: Paschal Allen, Carl Duggan, David Hartley, Philip Hooper, Peter Leeming, John McKenzie, Clive Molloy, Paul Wade
Young Servants and Distant Voices: Gerald Beauchamp, Michael Butler, Jonathan Fox, Richard Hopkins, David Rookwood
Referencesedit
Notes
^Matthews, David (Summer 1968). "Britten's The Prodigal Son". Tempo (85): 28–30. JSTOR 943764.
^Alan Blyth (10 April 2007). "Colin Graham". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
^Donal Henahan (14 October 1966). "Britten Parable Makes U.S. Debut; ' Prodigal Son' Is Conducted by Rudel at Caramoor". The New York Times. p. 34.
^Thomas, Christopher J. (1986). "The Church Parables". The Opera Quarterly. 4 (3): 178–184. doi:10.1093/oq/4.3.178. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
^Keith Grant (8 April 2002). "Bryan Drake". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
^Howard, Patricia (September 1970). "Review of recording of Britten's The Prodigal Son". Tempo. 111 (1531): 899, 901. JSTOR 943764.
Sources
Holden, Amanda (Ed.), Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
External linksedit
Britten-Pears Foundation page on The Prodigal Son
Recordings of The Prodigal Son on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
October 28, 2023
prodigal, britten, prodigal, music, drama, benjamin, britten, with, libretto, william, plomer, based, biblical, story, prodigal, this, britten, third, parable, church, performance, after, curlew, river, burning, fiery, furnace, britten, dedicated, score, dmitr. The Prodigal Son is a music drama by Benjamin Britten with a libretto by William Plomer Based on the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son this was Britten s third parable for church performance after Curlew River and The Burning Fiery Furnace Britten dedicated the score to Dmitri Shostakovich The Prodigal SonOpera by Benjamin BrittenThe composer in 1968DescriptionA Parable for Church PerformanceLibrettistWilliam PlomerBased onProdigal SonPremiere10 June 1968 1968 06 10 Church of St Bartholomew Orford SuffolkThe first performance took place on 10 June 1968 in St Bartholomew s Church Orford Suffolk 1 The instrumentalists included the horn player Neill Sanders and the percussionist James Blades Colin Graham was the stage director 2 The United States premiere was presented at the Caramoor Summer Music Festival on 29 June 1969 with Andrea Velis as the Tempter Abbot 3 As with the other church parables the instrumental forces are very modest flute horn viola double bass harp organ and percussion with the use of the alto flute and small trumpet in D marking changes compared to the other works The percussion also incorporates a gourd rattle 4 Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 3 Recordings 4 References 5 External linksRoles editRole Voice type Premiere Cast 10 June 1968 Conductor Benjamin Britten Tempter Abbot tenor Peter PearsThe Father bass baritone John Shirley QuirkThe Younger Son tenor Robert TearThe Elder Son baritone Bryan Drake 5 Young Servants and Distant Voices Gerald Beauchamp Michael Butler Jonathan Fox Richard Hopkins David RookwoodChorus Servants Parasites and BeggarsSynopsis editThe story centers on a farm family which consists of a father and his two sons Servants also help with working the land The elder son and the servants leave to work the fields for the day The younger son hears a voice that tempts him to indulge his most secret longings The younger son asks his father for his inheritance which the father grants The younger son makes his way to the city There he is deprived of his fortune and left penniless The younger son then returns home and asks his father s forgiveness His father receives his younger son with rejoicing but the elder son is initially angry at his father s reaction after he himself has loyally worked the fields The father rebukes his elder son and asks him to be reconciled to his younger brother who has returned to restore the family Recordings editBritten and Viola Tunnard directed the first recording of the work for the Decca label original listing Decca SET 438 with the premiere s cast and players 6 The full cast of singers is Tempter Abbot Peter Pears The Father John Shirley Quirk The Younger Son Robert Tear The Elder Son Bryan Drake Chorus of Servants Parasites and Beggars Paschal Allen Carl Duggan David Hartley Philip Hooper Peter Leeming John McKenzie Clive Molloy Paul Wade Young Servants and Distant Voices Gerald Beauchamp Michael Butler Jonathan Fox Richard Hopkins David RookwoodReferences editNotes Matthews David Summer 1968 Britten s The Prodigal Son Tempo 85 28 30 JSTOR 943764 Alan Blyth 10 April 2007 Colin Graham The Guardian Retrieved 12 March 2017 Donal Henahan 14 October 1966 Britten Parable Makes U S Debut Prodigal Son Is Conducted by Rudel at Caramoor The New York Times p 34 Thomas Christopher J 1986 The Church Parables The Opera Quarterly 4 3 178 184 doi 10 1093 oq 4 3 178 Retrieved 1 May 2008 Keith Grant 8 April 2002 Bryan Drake The Guardian Retrieved 12 March 2017 Howard Patricia September 1970 Review of recording of Britten s The Prodigal Son Tempo 111 1531 899 901 JSTOR 943764 Sources Holden Amanda Ed Viking Opera Guide ed Holden Viking 1993 External links editBritten Pears Foundation page on The Prodigal Son Recordings of The Prodigal Son on operadis opera discography org uk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Prodigal Son Britten amp oldid 1083528701, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
