The Duchess of Malfi (opera)

The Duchess of Malfi is an opera in three acts by the British composer Stephen Oliver, based on the eponymous play by John Webster. Oliver originally wrote this opera, his ninth in 1971, at age 21, for a production at the Oxford Playhouse on commission from the Oxford University Opera Club.[1] The premiere was on November 23, 1971, with the following cast members:[2]

  • Jillian Crowe (The Duchess)
  • Keith Jones (Antonio)
  • Marion Milford (Julia)
  • Peter Reynolds (The Cardinal)
  • Stephen Oliver (Bosola)
  • Anthony Sargent (Ferdinand)
  • Alison Stamp (Cariola)

The conductor was Peter Robinson, and the director Julian Hope.

Oliver then rewrote the work, and the revised version received its US premiere at Santa Fe Opera on August 5, 1978.[3]

  1. ^ Glover, Jane, "Stephen Oliver" (December 1974). The Musical Times, 115 (1582): pp. 1042-1044.
  2. ^ Caminer, Lesley, "Reports: Oxford" (January 1972). The Musical Times, 113 (1547): pp. 70-74.
  3. ^ Annalyn Swan (4 September 1978). "A Duo of Duchesses". Time. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved 2007-09-14.