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Britten's The Rape of Lucretia

Corinna Niemeyer conducts the Aurora Orchestra and a youthful cast in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia, recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Tom Service presents.

Rome, 500BC. While her husband is away Lucretia, the wife of Roman general Collatinus, is raped by the prince Tarquinius. The following day, the traumatised Lucretia commits suicide. Like its immediate predecessor, Peter Grimes, The Rape of Lucretia is a grim story exploring dark themes and, as in Grimes, Britten demonstrates his deep understanding of the most sinister corners of the human psyche. But despite all this, The Rape of Lucretia is a lyrical chamber opera with many beautiful moments. It's scored for small instrumental forces and an ensemble cast of soloists, with a title role written for legendary British contralto Kathleen Ferrier. She inspired Britten to write, in Lucretia’s final aria, one of the most passionate vocal numbers he ever composed.

In this new production by Oliver Mears, Lucretia is sung by Anne Marie Stanley, one of a cast of up-and-coming soloists drawn from two of the UK's most prestigious schemes for youthful musical talent: the Royal Opera House's Jette Parker Artists Programme and the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme. In the pit, Corinna Niemeyer conducts the ever-in-demand Aurora Orchestra.

Recorded earlier this week at the Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and introduced by Tom Service in conversation with Kate Guthrie.

Britten: The Rape of Lucretia
Act 1

7.25 pm
Interval

7.40 pm
Act 2

Lucretia ..... Anne Marie Stanley (mezzo-soprano)
Bianca ..... Carolyn Holt (mezzo-soprano)
Lucia ..... Sarah Dufresne (soprano)
Tarquinius ..... Jolyon Loy (baritone)
Collatinus ..... Thomas D Hopkinson (bass)
Junius ..... Kieran Rayner (baritone)
Female Chorus ..... Sydney Baedke (soprano)
Male Chorus ..... Michael Gibson (tenor)
Aurora Orchestra
Corinna Niemeyer (conductor)

3 hours, 29 minutes

Last on

Sat 26 Nov 2022 18:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Benjamin Britten

    The Rape Of Lucretia, Op.37 - Act 1

    Performer: Anne Marie Stanley. Performer: Carolyn Holt. Performer: Sarah Dufresne. Performer: Jolyon Loy. Performer: Thomas D Hopkinson. Performer: Kieran Rayner. Performer: Sydney Baedke. Performer: Michael Gibson. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Corinna Niemeyer.

  • Benjamin Britten

    The Rape Of Lucretia, Op.37 - Act 2

    Performer: Anne Marie Stanley. Performer: Carolyn Holt. Performer: Sarah Dufresne. Performer: Jolyon Loy. Performer: Thomas D Hopkinson. Performer: Kieran Rayner. Performer: Sydney Baedke. Performer: Michael Gibson. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Corinna Niemeyer.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sonata in D major K.448 for 2 pianos

    Performer: Sviatoslav Richter. Performer: Benjamin Britten.
    • Decca.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, K.550

    Conductor: Benjamin Britten. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra.
    • Britten The Performer.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 142.

  • Franz Schubert

    Grand Duo Sonata In C Major, D.812 (Op. Posth.140): I. Allegro moderato

    Performer: Sviatoslav Richter. Performer: Benjamin Britten.
    • Britten The Performer.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 200.

Broadcast

  • Sat 26 Nov 2022 18:30
    BBC Radio 3