Customer Reviews

Gloriana

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent production of this rarely performed and rarely recorded work. It displays many of the features of Britten's best work. The music is often lovely and features Britten's particular ability to set english language texts to music. The music is informed by Britten's ability to create a style with is reminescent of music appropriate for the period without being imitative. The story is relatively complex, describing the aged Elizabeth 1st's infatuation with the much younger Earl of Essex and his subsequent execution for treason. Elizabeth is the central figure of the story. I suspect one of the reasons that this opera is not performed often is that Elizabeth is a particularly difficult role. Britten and his librettist, the writer William Plomer, present her as a complex figure. Elizabeth is nearing the end of her life and long reign. She is shown to not merely infatuated with Essex but also with the idea of a young lover, a throw back to her early days as Queen. Plomer and Britten and show her a woman capable of petty spite and jealousy, as a powerful and intelligent monarch, and finally as an individual facing death and loss of all the things that have held meaning. This role demands not only considerable vocal ability but also acting ability commensurate with the complex figure of Elizabeth. I doubt that many opera singers have the acting capacity to pull this off.
This opera illustrates some of the reasons why Britten has a somewhat ambiguous position among 20th century composers. He was not a man of the avant-garde and his work tends to be dismissed by somewhat snobby academic critics. On the other hand, much of his music, particularly in the operas is somewhat unconventional and he appears to have been very interested in producing more subtle emotional effects. The range of emotions in much of his operatic work tends to be subtle and much more modulated than seen in prototypic 19th century opera. I think this has tended to reduce the popularity of his work though he is certainly more popular than many 20th century composers. I believe that Britten amply repays careful listening and I recommend this recording strongly.

This is a truly amazing opera: poetic libretto, pagentry, a mix of great dramatic confrontations and more quiet moments, a complex, fascinating character at the center of the story, and, most importantly, GREAT MUSIC. I really can't understand why it isn't performed more often, especially since it is so melodic and so much more conventional as a "grand opera" than most of Britten's other works. I am also so disappointed that Britten did not make a recording with the original cast as he did for many of his other operas. I guess its premiere wasn't well received, and that is what stopped any plans for a recording at that time (according to what I've read). The original cast was reportedly fabulous (Joan Cross, Peter Pears, etc...), but the one on this recording is very good too. If you are interested in Britten, you must get to know this work!

It's was a major inconvenience, time and cost expenditure to get my order sent to me. Why? because the seller doesn't send outside of the US. Hello? I thought we lived in a world of international global trade and comunication. Let's get with it! Or stay in the stone age and you can bet I won't order again.