Opera Scotland

King Arthur King Arthur, or The British Worthy

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Music

Henry Purcell (born London, c 1659; died London, 21 November 1695).

Text

John Dryden (1631-1700)

Source

Original

 

Premières

First Performance: London (Dorset Garden Theatre), May or June 1691.

First performance in Scotland: Edinburgh (Royal Lyceum Theatre), 14 December 1970.

Scottish Opera première: N/A.

 

Background

As with his later Fairy Queen, this was not composed as an opera, according to modern terminology, but is an elaborate play, with substantial musical elements, in a prologue, five acts and an epilogue. Very few of the characters of the drama actually sing. Unlike the Shakespeare-derived Fairy Queen, Dryden created King Arthur as an original work designed specifically to show off Purcell's music. Many attempts have been made to prepare a performing version which would be appropriate for an opera company that did not employ squads of actors and dancers. Colin Graham's edition, prepared in 1970, was successful at the time, but has not been revived. The work has been successful in straight concert form, and, in the 2013 Edinburgh student production, a composite perhaps in the form of a masque, successfully interpolating other music from the same hand.

 

Main Characters

Arthur, King of the Britons.

Merlin, his magician

Philidel an Airy Spirit.

Conon, Duke of Cornwall.

Emmeline, his blind daughter, engaged to Arthur.

Oswald, King of the Saxons.

Osmond, a Saxon sorcerer (renamed Guillamar in the Graham version)

Grimbald, an Earthy Spirit.

 

Plot Summary

Arthur and the Britons defeat the Saxon invaders, leaving them with only a foothold in the country. As a last resort, encouraged by Osmond and Grimbald, they kidnap Emmeline. Arthur with the help of Merlin and Philidel, defeats Oswald and wins her back. Her sight is restored, and the work ends with a spectacular celebration of the future for Britannia, which features 'Fairest Isle', one of Purcell's greatest songs.