Difference between revisions of "Let's Make an Opera"
(Created page with "''Let's Make an Opera'' is a dramatic work composed by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Eric Crozier. ==The original text== Subtitled ''An Entertainment for Young P...") |
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==The original text== | ==The original text== | ||
| − | Subtitled ''An Entertainment for Young People'', the work consists of three acts, the first two being in the form of a play illustrating the preparation and rehearsal of ''The Little Sweep'', the opera which is performed in the third act. | + | Subtitled ''An Entertainment for Young People'', the work consists of three acts, the first two being in the form of a play illustrating the preparation and rehearsal of '''''[[The Little Sweep]]''''', the opera which is performed in the third act. |
| + | |||
| + | The piece has the following structure: | ||
| + | |||
| + | Part One (The Play): The performance begins with a play that shows the audience (and a cast of adult and children actors) in the process of writing, casting, and rehearsing a brand-new opera. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Part Two (The Opera): The second half is the finished one-act opera, titled ''[[The Little Sweep]]''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Audience participation was built directly into the show, teaching the crowd four "audience songs" to be sung from their seats at key moments to help the protagonists in the story. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It was first performed on 14 June, 1949, by the English Opera Group in the Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1960: Premiered in South Africa at the newly renamed [[Alexander Theatre]] in Braamfontein (formerly known as the [[Reps Theatre]]). The full piece was done, including its opera, ''[[The Little Sweep]]''), and highly celebrated by audiences and critics, and served as the South African debut for the performer and singer [[Vivienne Adley]], who had returned home after her studies and West End tenure in London. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Sources == | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Benjamin-Britten-Let-s-Make-an-Opera/6260 | ||
| + | |||
| + | E-mail correspondence from Andrew Linder[], son of [[Vivienne Adley]]. (7-8 May, 2026) | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://www.straussart.co.za/2012/sparkling-singer-s-jewellery-to-be-auctioned | ||
| + | |||
| + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Films]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Radio/Plays|South African Radio Plays and Serials]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Television/Plays|South African Television Plays and Series]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:10, 8 June 2026
Let's Make an Opera is a dramatic work composed by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Eric Crozier.
Contents
The original text
Subtitled An Entertainment for Young People, the work consists of three acts, the first two being in the form of a play illustrating the preparation and rehearsal of The Little Sweep, the opera which is performed in the third act.
The piece has the following structure:
Part One (The Play): The performance begins with a play that shows the audience (and a cast of adult and children actors) in the process of writing, casting, and rehearsing a brand-new opera.
Part Two (The Opera): The second half is the finished one-act opera, titled The Little Sweep.
Audience participation was built directly into the show, teaching the crowd four "audience songs" to be sung from their seats at key moments to help the protagonists in the story.
It was first performed on 14 June, 1949, by the English Opera Group in the Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh'
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1960: Premiered in South Africa at the newly renamed Alexander Theatre in Braamfontein (formerly known as the Reps Theatre). The full piece was done, including its opera, The Little Sweep), and highly celebrated by audiences and critics, and served as the South African debut for the performer and singer Vivienne Adley, who had returned home after her studies and West End tenure in London.
Sources
https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Benjamin-Britten-Let-s-Make-an-Opera/6260
E-mail correspondence from Andrew Linder[], son of Vivienne Adley. (7-8 May, 2026)
https://www.straussart.co.za/2012/sparkling-singer-s-jewellery-to-be-auctioned
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to South_African_Films
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to South African Radio Plays and Serials
Return to South African Television Plays and Series
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
