Alban (opera)
Encyclopedia
Alban is a community opera
in two acts with music by Tom Wiggall
and libretto by John Mole
.
The opera was commissioned by St Albans Cathedral Community Trust as a celebration of the patron saint of their city. The world premiere took place in May 2009 when five performances were given in the space of four days. Composed with St Albans Cathedral
in mind, the production exploited the opportunities given by the architectural design of the building. The performances were given by professional soloists with choruses composed of choristers from all around the diocese, accompanied by a chamber orchestra.
The story relates the last few days of the life of Alban
, a doctor in Verulamium
(modern day St Albans
) and family man who was martyred around 210AD for sheltering a Christian priest and offering himself up to save the priest’s life.
The opera was described in Opera Now as "a cogent chamber opera worthy of Britten's
Church Parables," which "betokens great expectations of composer and producers alike."
where he is to have a new job. His wife accepts the move with reluctance, but their two children, Gaius and Melissa, are quite excited.
The Christian priest arrives at Alban’s house and asks for shelter. When Alban gives him refuge, his wife is concerned for their own safety. However, Alban becomes so moved by the priest’s message of Christianity with its message of love and protection of the meek and poor, that he saves the priest by disguising himself in the priest’s clothes when the soldiers come for the second time looking for him.
In the court scene that follows in Act Two the governor wants to delay a verdict until all the facts are firmly presented, but his wife persuades him that Alban is dangerous and should be sentenced to death immediately. Claudia pleads with her for forgiveness, but Alban is sentenced. The executioner refuses to carry out his orders and is himself put to death. Another soldier is ordered to carry out the execution. His body is carried out ceremoniously as the chorus sing a hymn of praise.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in two acts with music by Tom Wiggall
Tom Wiggall
Tom Wiggall is a British composer who writes music for film and for the stage. He has taught composition in the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Conservatoire and Birkbeck, University of London....
and libretto by John Mole
John Mole (poet)
John Mole is a British poet and jazz clarinettist.He has won several prizes for his poetry including an Eric Gregory Award, the Cholmondeley Award, and the Signal Award for children's poetry. He is Writer in Residence at Magdalene College, Cambridge and Poet in Residence to the Poets Society in...
.
The opera was commissioned by St Albans Cathedral Community Trust as a celebration of the patron saint of their city. The world premiere took place in May 2009 when five performances were given in the space of four days. Composed with St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
in mind, the production exploited the opportunities given by the architectural design of the building. The performances were given by professional soloists with choruses composed of choristers from all around the diocese, accompanied by a chamber orchestra.
The story relates the last few days of the life of Alban
Saint Alban
Saint Alban was the first British Christian martyr. Along with his fellow saints Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three martyrs remembered from Roman Britain. Alban is listed in the Church of England calendar for 22 June and he continues to be venerated in the Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox...
, a doctor in Verulamium
Verulamium
Verulamium was an ancient town in Roman Britain. It was sited in the southwest of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Great Britain. A large portion of the Roman city remains unexcavated, being now park and agricultural land, though much has been built upon...
(modern day St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
) and family man who was martyred around 210AD for sheltering a Christian priest and offering himself up to save the priest’s life.
The opera was described in Opera Now as "a cogent chamber opera worthy of Britten's
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
Church Parables," which "betokens great expectations of composer and producers alike."
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 20 May 2009 (Conductor: David Ireson) |
|---|---|---|
| Alban | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Philip Salmon |
| Priest | bass-baritone Bass-baritone A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende... |
Paul Sheehan |
| Claudia, Alban’s wife | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Dominique Thiébaud |
| Lucius, Governor | bass Bass (voice type) A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C... |
Des Turner |
| Marcella, Governor's wife | mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... |
Louise Mott Louise Mott (singer) Louise Mott is a British mezzo-soprano.She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music, Royal College of Music and National Opera Studio and she has performed in a number of opera roles for opera companies including English Touring Opera, Opera North, English National Opera, Welsh National... |
| Julia, a family friend | mezzo-soprano | Ellie White |
| Melissa, Alban's daughter | girl soprano | Georgina Thomas |
| Gaius, Alban's son | treble Boy soprano A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the soprano range. Although a treble, or choirboy, may also be considered to be a boy soprano, the more colloquial term boy soprano is generally only used for boys who sing, perform, or record as soloists, and who may not necessarily... |
Peter Sequeira |
| Director | Beckie Mills | |
| Chorus | ||
Synopsis
A Christian priest has been arrested as his preaching is not allowed under Roman law. Somehow he manages to escape. A lively market scene presents the community with its traders and customers. The next scene switches to Alban’s home. Alban is planning to move his family to SarumSarum
-Places:*Salisbury, United Kingdom, or New Sarum, a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England*Old Sarum, the ruins of the former settlement in England, 2 miles north of modern Salisbury, UK* Sarum , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
where he is to have a new job. His wife accepts the move with reluctance, but their two children, Gaius and Melissa, are quite excited.
The Christian priest arrives at Alban’s house and asks for shelter. When Alban gives him refuge, his wife is concerned for their own safety. However, Alban becomes so moved by the priest’s message of Christianity with its message of love and protection of the meek and poor, that he saves the priest by disguising himself in the priest’s clothes when the soldiers come for the second time looking for him.
In the court scene that follows in Act Two the governor wants to delay a verdict until all the facts are firmly presented, but his wife persuades him that Alban is dangerous and should be sentenced to death immediately. Claudia pleads with her for forgiveness, but Alban is sentenced. The executioner refuses to carry out his orders and is himself put to death. Another soldier is ordered to carry out the execution. His body is carried out ceremoniously as the chorus sing a hymn of praise.