Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Gloriana (1953)

Opera in 3 acts


stage work

  • General information
    • Composition date: 1953 - 13 mar 1953
      Revision dates: 1966
    • Duration: 2 h 30 mn
    • Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
    • Opus: 53
    • Dedication: 'This work is dedicated by gracious permission to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II'
    • Libretto (details, author):

      William Plomer d’après Lytton Strachey, Elizabeth and Essex

Detailed formation
  • soloists: 3 solo sopranos [dont 2 rôles principaux] , 2 solo mezzo-sopranos [dont 1 rôle principal] , 3 solo tenors [dont un rôle principal] , 4 solo baritones [dont 3 rôles principaux] , 3 solo bass voices [dont un rôle principal]
  • mixed choir
  • 3 flutes (also 2 piccolos), 2 oboes, 1 English horn, 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 4 percussionists, 1 timpani, 1 harp, strings

Premiere information

  • Date: 8 June 1953
    Location:

    Londres, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden


    Performers:

    Royal Opera, Covent Garden, direction : John Pritchard, mise en scène : Basil Coleman, chorégraphe : John Cranko.

Observations

Sur scène : instruments historiques (cordes, pipe, tabor, gittern, percussions, harpe, trompettes…) et ballet.