| The Prodigal Son | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Benjamin Britten | |
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Benjamin_Britten,_London_Records_1968_publicity_photo_for_Wikipedia_crop.jpg) The composer in 1968 | |
| Description | A Parable for Church Performance |
| Librettist | William Plomer |
| Based on | Prodigal Son |
| Premiere | 10 June 1968 |
The Prodigal Son is a music drama by Benjamin Britten with a libretto by William Plomer. Based on the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son, this was Britten's third "parable for church performance", after Curlew River and The Burning Fiery Furnace. Britten dedicated the score to Dmitri Shostakovich.
The first performance took place on 10 June 1968 in St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Suffolk.[1] The instrumentalists included the horn player Neill Sanders and the percussionist James Blades. Colin Graham was the stage director.[2] The United States premiere was presented at the Caramoor Summer Music Festival on 29 June 1969 with Andrea Velis as the Tempter/Abbot.[3]
As with the other church parables, the instrumental forces are very modest: flute, horn, viola, double bass, harp, organ and percussion, with the use of the alto flute and small trumpet in D marking changes compared to the other works. The percussion also incorporates a gourd rattle.[4]
- ^ Matthews, David (Summer 1968). "Britten's The Prodigal Son". Tempo (85): 28–30. JSTOR 943764.
- ^ Alan Blyth (10 April 2007). "Colin Graham". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ Donal Henahan (14 October 1966). "Britten Parable Makes U.S. Debut; ' Prodigal Son' Is Conducted by Rudel at Caramoor". The New York Times. p. 34.
- ^ Thomas, Christopher J. (1986). "The Church Parables". The Opera Quarterly. 4 (3): 178–184. doi:10.1093/oq/4.3.178. Retrieved 1 May 2008.