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Program

Benjamin Britten, The Rape of Lucretia, Op. 37

I: "Rome is now ruled by the Etruscan Upstart"

I: "It is an axiom among Kings"

I: "Here the thirsty evening"

I: "Who reaches Heaven first"

I: "Maria was unmasket at a masked ball"

I: "Collatinus is politically astute"

I: "There goes a happy man!"

I: "Tarquinius does not dare"

I: "My horse! My horse! Tarquinius does not wait"

I: "Their spinning-wheel unwinds"

I: "Listen! I heard a knock"

I: "Time treads upon the hands of women"

I: "The oatmeal slippers of sleep"

II: "The prosperity of the Etruscans"

II: "She sleeps as a rose"

II: "Within this frail crucible of light"

II: "Lucretia!... What do you want?"

II: Interlude: "Here in this scene"

II: "Oh! What a lovely day!"

II: "We'll leave the orchids for Lucretia"

II: "Flowers bring to every year"

II: "You were right"

II: "Lucretia! Lucretia!"

II: "Last night Tarquinius ravished me"

II: "This dead hand lets fall"

II: Epilogue: "Is it all?"

Britten's The Rape of Lucretia

Fiona Shaw (stage director), Leo Hussain (conductor) – With Christine Rice (Lucretia), Allan Clayton (Male Chorus), Kate Royal (Female Chorus)...

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Cast

Fiona Shaw — Stage director

Michael Levine — Set designer

Nicky Gillibrand — Costume designer

Paul Anderson — Lighting designer

Christine Rice — Lucretia

Allan Clayton — Male Chorus

Kate Royal — Female Chorus

Program notes

Britten’s The Rape of Lucretiabased on the play by André Obey—returned to Glyndebourne in 2015, nearly 70 years after its premiere there in 1946. Fiona Shaw, also known for her performance as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter films, directed the staging for this production.

Britten wrote this work in hope of encouraging a return to truly "English" opera. The Rape of Lucretia stands apart from Britten’s other works as it is the only one with a mythological subject. It is also his first "chamber opera" and the work's intimate and haunting atmosphere leaves a stunning impression.

This two act opera recounts the story of the young Lucretia, the faithful and loving wife of the Roman general Collatinus. As the play opens, we find Collatinus with his comrades, Tarquinius and Junius, who have been destroyed by the recent discovery that their wives were unfaithful to them during their absence. Tarquinius, the ruler of Rome, is goaded into agreeing to test Lucretia’s chastity himself and leaves the military camp to visit his friend's wife. During Collatinus' absence, Lucretia has longing for her distant husband. One evening, there comes a knock on her door from Tarquinius. Though fearful, she cannot refuse to offer the prince her hospitality.

Photo: © Robbie Jack

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Benjamin Britten