Britten's Gloriana
Britten's Gloriana
The Gramophone Choice
Sarah Walker sop Queen Elizabeth I Anthony Rolfe Johnson ten Earl of Essex Jean Rigby mez Countess of Essex Neil Howlett bar Lord Mountjoy Alan Opie bar Sir Robert Cecil Elizabeth Vaughan sop Lady Rich Richard Van Allan bass Sir Walter Raleigh Malcolm Donnelly bar Henry Cuffe ENO Chorus and Orchestra / Mark Elder
Stage director Colin Graham
Video director Derek Bailey
ArtHaus Musik DVD 102 097 (147’ · NTSC · 4:3 · PCM stereo · 0) Recorded live. Buy from Amazon
It was this staging that conclusively restored the work to the repertory when directed with such utter conviction in Alix Stone and Colin Graham’s evocative sets, and Stone’s proud costumes. Many fine singers graced the title-part over the years. Sarah Walker is among the foremost of them. Barstow is, of course, unforgettable, but Walker’s portrayal stands up to the comparison and, though a mezzo, she has no trouble with high-line passages.
At the time ENO still boasted fine ensembles. Every other member of the cast surpasses its Opera North counterpart (Opus Arte): Rolfe Johnson’s manly, hot-headed and finely sung Essex, Richard Van Allan’s menacing Raleigh, Jean Rigby’s moving Frances Essex, Alan Opie’s sly Cecil. Over all presides Mark Elder, projecting a grandly conceived yet subtle account of the whole score, played with acumen by the ENO orchestra. This is an experience of a great company in full flight and should not be missed; it gives the score in its entirety, allowing us to hear what a dramatically varied and superbly crafted piece of work Britten’s opera has proved to be.
