Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
The Beggar's Opera (1948)
A Ballad-Opera, by John Gay (1728), from the original composition by John Chistopher Pepusch (1667-1752)
["L'opéra de 4 sous"]
stage work
arrangement
- General information
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Composition date:
1948
- Duration: 1 h 45 mn
- Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
- Dedication: 'To James Lawrie'
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Libretto (details, author):
John Gay
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Composition date:
1948
- Type
- Vocal music and instrument(s) [2 solo voices or more and ensemble of 10 to 25 instruments]
Detailed formation
- soloists: 1 solo soprano, 2 solo mezzo-sopranos, 1 solo tenor [ou baryton] , 1 solo tenor [ou récitnant] , 1 solo baritone, 1 solo bass voice, 1 narrator
- mixed choir
- 1 flute (also 1 piccolo), 1 oboe (also 1 English horn), 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 1 horn, 1 percussionist, 1 violin, 1 second violin, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 double bass
Premiere information
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Date:
24 May 1948
Location:Cambridge, Ars Theatre
Performers:The English Opera Group, direction : Benjamin Britten ; producteur : Tyrone Guthrie, décor : Tanya Moiseiwitsch.