Rutland Boughton: The Immortal Hour

[Katzelmacher]

I was reminded of this piece when its most famous aria (How Beautiful They Are/The Lordly Ones) popped up in the current Can’t Get You Out Of My Head extravaganza.

A huge success in its day (the premiere was in August 1914), it has fallen from the repertoire, like most British stage works of that period. There’s a recording of it on youtube which I’ve listened to and, though it’s pleasant listening, I don’t think it fulfils its composer’s stated intention of bringing Wagnerian music drama to Britain.

Still, I’m surprised ENO haven’t staged it - unless they have, and I’m not aware.

[Bryn]

I was reminded of this piece when its most famous aria (How Beautiful They Are/The Lordly Ones) popped up in the current Can’t Get You Out Of My Head extravaganza.

A huge success in its day (the premiere was in August 1914), it has fallen from the repertoire, like most British stage works of that period. There’s a recording of it on youtube which I’ve listened to and, though it’s pleasant listening, I don’t think it fulfils its composer’s stated intention of bringing Wagnerian music drama to Britain.

Still, I’m surprised ENO haven’t staged it - unless they have, and I’m not aware.

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDD22040

[Serial_Apologist]

I suppose we have to "thank" Rutland Boughton for putting Glastonbury on the map musically, and in a way inaugurating the Glastonbury Festival. I wonder what he would have made of it. Probably have gone along with the original idea, but later on Boughton became a Communist, and I have a lovely tape of a radio documentary on the man, from around 1980, in part of which Alan Bush reminisced on Boughton, whom he got to know.