The Mines of Sulphur

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The Mines of Sulphur is an opera by Richard Rodney Bennett. Beverly Cross wrote the libretto. It was Bennett's first full-length opera, composed in 1963.

Contents

[edit] Performance history

The Mines of Sulphur premiered on 24 February 1965 at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. It received numerous subsequent performances, including in Cologne, Marseille, Milan, Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York City (at the Juilliard School). Most productions were well received, except for one directed by John Huston at La Scala. After the mid-1970s, however, the work was mostly forgotten, until a popular revival by Glimmerglass Opera in 2004. The Glimmerglass production was then brought to the New York City Opera, and also commercially recorded in 2005.

[edit] Roles

[edit] Synopsis

The opera is set in an old, decaying West Country manor house, in the mid 18th century. Bocconion and Tovey arrive, and murder the owner, Braxton, who has been abusively holding Rosalind in his house. The three steal Braxton's riches and begin to celebrate their new wealth, when a group of itinerant actors arrives. Bocconion agrees to give them shelter, in return for entertainment. The actors present their newest play, The Mines of Sulphur, about a count who weds a beautiful girl, who falls in love with the count's valet. The count threatens the lovers, and the girl urges the valet to kill the count. At this point, the play is halted by Bocconion. The actress Jenny faints, and Tooley takes her upstairs, where he discovers the murdered landowner. Bocconion plans to kill the actors and escape, but then it is revealed that Jenny has the plague, and all in the house are doomed.

[edit] References

  • Susan Bradshaw. “The Mines of Sulphur”, L. Macy: Grove Music Online.
  • Anthony Tommasini. "A Composer Happily Returns To 'The Mines'", The New York Times, 2005-10-21, p. E1.
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