The Cumnor Affair or An Elizabethan Murder-Mystery[1][2] is a one-act opera by the English composer Philip Cashian with an English-language libretto by Iain Pears,[3] lasting 75 minutes in performance. The opera is based on the love affair between Robert Dudley, Amy Robsart, and Elizabeth I of England. The sudden death of Robsart led to speculation that she was murdered.[4]

Background

The work was composed in 2008[5] and premiered the same year on November 10 by the Tête à Tête opera company at the Riverside Studios in London, England, conducted by Tim Murray.[6][7][8] The premiere was directed by Bill Bankes-Jones with set design by Tim Meacock and light design by Mark Doubleday.[9][10]

Characters

  • Lord Cecil: Robert Gildon (2008 Premiere)[11]
  • Queen Elizabeth I: Sibylla Meienberg (2008 Premiere)[12]
  • Amy Cumnor (Amy Robsart): Amy Carson (2008 Premiere)[13]

Reviews

According to Ash Smyth of the Oxford Mail, the singing was lackluster and the absence of melody was a jarring error. As Smyth notes, "It is basically without melody, which was bad enough when competing with the singers, and worse when not."[12] Rupert Christiansen of The Telegraph supported the company but noted the failure of the production, "this isn't one of their more successful ventures"[9]

Instrumentation

The opera is scored for seven voices and ten instrumentalists:[14]

  • Flute
  • Alto Flute
  • Piccolo
  • Clarinet
  • Eb Clarinet
  • Bass Clarinet
  • French Horn
  • Percussion
  • Violin
  • Cello
  • Double Bass

References

  1. ↑ Jeal, Erica (2008-11-13). "The Cumnor Affair". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  2. ↑ "Tête à Tête rocked by funding loss". Rhinegold. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  3. ↑ Cashian, Phillip. "The Cumnor Affair". Phillip Cashian.
  4. ↑ "Win tickets to The Cumnor Affair". the Guardian. 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  5. ↑ Cashian, Philip; Pears, Iain (2017). The Cumnor affair: an opera in one act, 2008 (Piano reduction ed.). Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire: Composers Edition.
  6. ↑ "Win tickets to The Cumnor Affair". the Guardian. 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  7. ↑ "Opera". Tim Murray. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  8. ↑ "Cashian". NMC. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  9. 1 2 "The Cumnor Affair: operatic murder mystery". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  10. ↑ "Biography". Mark Doubleday. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  11. ↑ "BARITONE". Robert Gildon. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  12. 1 2 "The Cumnor Affair: Riverside Studios, Hammersmith". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  13. ↑ "About - Amy Carson". 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  14. ↑ "The Cumnor Affair". Composers Edition. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
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