Taverner (opera)

Taverner is an opera with music and libretto by Peter Maxwell Davies. It is based on the life of the 16th-century English composer John Taverner, but in what Davies himself acknowledged was a non-realistic treatment.[1] The gestation for the opera dated as far back as 1956 during Davies's years in Manchester, and continued when he went to Princeton University in 1962. Davies produced several instrumental works related to the opera during this gestation period, including the Points and Dances from 'Taverner' and the Second Fantasia on John Taverner's "In Nomine".[2] Davies had completed the opera in 1968, but lost parts of the score in a fire at his Dorset cottage in 1969, which necessitated recomposition.[3]

Taverner
Opera by Peter Maxwell Davies
The composer in 2012
LibrettistPeter Maxwell Davies
Premiere
12 July 1972 (1972-07-12)
Royal Opera House, London

Davies employs a theme from the 'Benedictus' of Taverner's Mass Gloria Tibi Trinitas as a recurring motif throughout the work. This theme, taken from the section beginning 'in nomine [Domini]', gained popularity among later composers of the English renaissance in the form of the instrumental In Nomine. Stephen Arnold has written a detailed analysis of the music of the opera and of Davies's use of parody.[4] The American composer John Harbison has published an analysis of the opera (working from the vocal score), contemporary with its first performances.[5] Gabriel Josipovici has commented on the historical events that inspired the opera and on the libretto itself.[6]

The opera was first performed at Covent Garden, London, on 12 July 1972, with Edward Downes conducting, Michael Geliot as director and Ralph Koltai as designer.[7]

Performance history

The US premiere was in March 1986 at the Opera Company of Boston, under the direction of Sarah Caldwell.[8]

Roles
Role Voice type Premiere Cast,[9]
12 July 1972
(Conductor:Edward Downes)
Taverner tenor Ragnar Ulfung
Rose Parrowe contralto Gillian Knight
Death bass Benjamin Luxon
Abbot bass-baritone Raimund Herincx
King bass Noel Mangin
Cardinal tenor[10] John Lanigan
Priest countertenor James Bowman
Choirboy boy soprano David Pearl

Synopsis

Act 1

Scene 1

Taverner is put on trial before the White Abbot on charges of heresy. Testimony comes from his father and his mistress, as well as a priest and a choirboy. Taverner is found guilty, but the Cardinal pardons him, noting the composer's usefulness and naiveté.

Scene 2

Taverner's fate is mirrored in the chorus of monks as he ponders his conscience.

Scene 3

The King‡ discusses his intended divorce with the Cardinal‡‡, with interruptions from the jester.

Scene 4

The court jester proves to be Death in disguise. A metaphorical battle for Taverner's soul then occurs, with his father and mistress in opposition to the jester/Death. The jester/Death prevails, and Taverner has become a religious fanatic.

Act 2

Scene 1

Taverner has become an instrument of royal religious policy, having abandoned his earlier Catholic faith for the new Protestant religion, in the wake of the Reformation. He presides over the conviction of the White Abbot on charges of heresy, with the same witnesses as in Act I, Scene 1.

Scene 2

Discussion of the break with the Catholic Church and the founding of the Church of England takes place between the King, the Archbishop of Canterbury (formerly the Cardinal)‡‡‡, and the jester/Death. The King speaks of his plan to annex the monasteries.

Scene 3

The monks are at their devotions. Soldiers, under orders from Taverner, take the monks prisoner.

Scene 4 The people praise Taverner and his brutal methods of justice. The White Abbot goes to his execution, under escort from Taverner.

‡ Patently King Henry VIII, but not named as such in the libretto.
‡‡ Cardinal Wolsey, but again not identified as such in the libretto.
‡‡‡ Thomas Cranmer, played by the same soloist as Wolsey.

Recordings

NMC D157 (2 CDs). Cast Includes Martyn Hill (John Taverner) and David Wilson-Johnson (Jester). BBC Symphony Orchestra, Fretwork, His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornetts, and London Voices, conducted by Oliver Knussen. Taken from a 1996 BBC studio recording.

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gollark: Or both ports on top, even.

References
Notes
  1. Davies, Peter Maxwell, "Taverner: Synopsis and Documentation" (1972). Tempo (New Ser.), 101: pp. 4-11.
  2. Swan, Peter, "Recordings: Peter Maxwell Davies" (June 1973). Tempo (New Ser.), 105: pp. 32-37.
  3. Walsh, Stephen, Interview with Peter Maxwell Davies on Taverner (July 1972). The Musical Times, Vol. 113, No. 1553. (Jul., 1972), pp. 653-655.
  4. Arnold, Stephen, "The Music of Taverner" (1972). Tempo (New Ser.), 101: pp. 20-39.
  5. Harbison, John, "Colloquy and Review: Peter Maxwell Davies' Taverner" (Autumn-Winter, 1972). Perspectives of New Music, 11 (1): pp. 233-240.
  6. Josipovici, Gabriel, "Taverner: Thoughts on the Libretto" (1972). Tempo (New Ser.), 101: pp. 12-19.
  7. "Morality Opera". Time. 31 July 1972. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  8. Schott, Howard, "Reports" (July 1986). The Musical Times, 127 (1720): pp. 400-402.
  9. Dean, Winton, "Music in London: Opera-Taverner" (September 1972). The Musical Times, 113 (1555): pp. 879, 881.
  10. The first performer of the role, John Lanigan, was a tenor, "for nearly 30 years one of the mainstays of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden" (Elizabeth Forbes, Obituary: John Lanigan, "The Independent", Friday 23 August 1996).
Sources
  • Holden, Amanda, ed. The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 2001 ISBN 0-14-029312-4
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