Gloriana, Coronation opera rehearsal, Britten and Pears

Dec. 20 Peter Pears as Lord Essex rehearses a passage from the opera on bended knee watched by Benjamin Britten (R) who wrote the opera. Gloriana, the Coronation opera performed before the Queen. In a brilliantly decorated and packed Covent Garden Opera House, the Queen watched the first performance of Gloriana, the opera written to celebrate the Coronation and dealing with the latter period of the life of Queen Elizabeth I. The music is by Benjamin Britten and the libretto by William Plomer. The part of Queen Elizabeth I is played by Joan Cross and that of Essex by Peter Pears. The opera was produced by Basil Coleman and the beautiful scenery and costumes are by John Piper

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Bended Brilliantly Britten Coleman Covent Dealing Gloriana Knee Latter Libretto Packed Pears Plomer Rehearses Watched Wrote

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