Boughton, Rutland (1878-1960)

[Sydney Grew]

Rutland Boughton was born at Aylesbury in 1878, educated at Aylesbury Grammar School and became one of England's most prominent symphonists. He left us three grand examples.

First symphony "Oliver Cromwell" (1904)

Second symphony "Deirdre" (1927)

Third symphony, in B minor (1937).

Also noteworthy are

the Strng Quartet no. 1, in A, 1923
amd the Strng Quartet no. 2, in F, also 1923.

Trumpeters may enjoy the trumpet coancerto of 1943
and let us not forget

Love and spring,for orchestra opus 23 (1906)

He wrote much choral and dramatic music, and successfully mounted the first Glastonbury Festival in 1914
as an English rival to Bayreuth

Many of his own stage works were put on there over the years.

A year ago all three symphonies were available from Youtube and downloadable, which was fortunate because they have now all vanished. The Brahmsian second is a particular favourite.

[edashtav]

Rutland Boughton was born at Aylesbury in 1878, educated at Aylesbury Grammar School and became one of England's most prominent symphonists. He left us three grand examples.

First symphony "Oliver Cromwell" (1904)

Second symphony "Deirdre" (1927)

Third symphony, in B minor (1937).

Also noteworthy are

the Strng Quartet no. 1, in A, 1923
amd the Strng Quartet no. 2, in F, also 1923.

Trumpeters may enjoy the trumpet coancerto of 1943
and let us not forget

Love and spring,for orchestra opus 23 (1906)

He wrote much choral and dramatic music, and successfully mounted the first Glastonbury Festival in 1914
as an English rival to Bayreuth

Many of his own stage works were put on there over the years.

A year ago all three symphonies were available from Youtube and downloadable, which was fortunate because they have now all vanished. The Brahmsian second is a particular favourite.

Taking up your Aylesbury theme: one of Rutland’s last string pieces was ‘Aylesbury Games’ written for this ‘home’ orchestra and its conductor. It’s a glorious piece, very much in the 20th century tradition of English string works. He never heard the piece because it was shelved: too difficult for amateurs and semi pros. Now, of course, given the Stoke Mandeville “Games”, Boughton’s title has a wider context. [My ancestors were neighbours of the Boughton family in Kingsbury Square, A.]

[Barbirollians]

Taking up your Aylesbury theme: one of Rutland’s last string pieces was ‘Aylesbury Games’ written for this ‘home’ orchestra and its conductor. It’s a glorious piece, very much in the 20th century tradition of English string works. He never heard the piece because it was shelved: too difficult for amateurs and semi pros. Now, of course, given the Stoke Mandeville “Games”, Boughton’s title has a wider context. [My ancestors were neighbours of the Boughton family in Kingsbury Square, A.]

Most famous I thought for The Immortal Hour.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I came across a relation:

https://www.hitchinsymphony.org.uk/Soloists/Ian-Boughton

And am aware of this organisation supporting Rutland's work and legacy (with discography) :

https://rutlandboughtonmusictrust.org/

Years ago I played a part (humble villager) in a production of "Bethlehem" which hasn't really lodged in my memory - nothing adverse, but I didn't feel I needed to seek out a recording or look it up again. (I do know the counter-tenor who was , err, persuaded to take the part of the Angel was a little traumatised by the production (but not the music)).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Of the three operas currently "available", the first got to know was Bethlehem, the work that began his reputational downfall, in that he staged the birth of Jesus in a miner's cottage. It caused shockwaves at the time, but nowadays it would probably have been praised as an innovative production, with critics raving about it. The Hyperion recording features Helen Field as Mary, but her voice sounds too "mature" for the part, which is a great pity.

The Immortal Hour recording was a big seller for Hyperion on its release. It's a decent enough opera, but I fail to understand the popularity of its most well known number "How beautiful they are". I suppose we're all different.

The Queen of Cornwall is in a class of its own. Thomas Hardy's take on the Tristan & Isolde story assists a fine English opera. It may appear to lie in the shadow of Wagner's great work, but the story is very different (with two Isoldes) and the music is English music drama at its finest. The Dutton Recording is still available.

The great omission is the complete absence of Boughton's 5-opera "English Ring" cycle:

The Birth of Arthur
The Round Table
The Lily Maid
Galahad
Avalon

Some years ago, there were excepts from The Lily Maid on Radio 3, but Boughton's work was never rewarded by the production of a complete cycle. The last two operas have never been performed.

[Serial_Apologist]

Of the three operas currently "available", the first got to know was Bethlehem, the work that began his reputational downfall, in that he staged the birth of Jesus in a miner's cottage. It caused shockwaves at the time, but nowadays it would probably have been praised as an innovative production, with critics raving about it. The Hyperion recording features Helen Field as Mary, but her voice sounds too "mature" for the part, which is a great pity.

The Immortal Hour recording was a big seller for Hyperion on its release. It's a decent enough opera, but I fail to understand the popularity of its most well known number "How beautiful they are". I suppose we're all different.

The Queen of Cornwall is in a class of its own. Thomas Hardy's take on the Tristan & Isolde story assists a fine English opera. It may appear to lie in the shadow of Wagner's great work, but the story is very different (with two Isoldes) and the music is English music drama at its finest. The Dutton Recording is still available.

The great omission is the complete absence of Boughton's 5-opera "English Ring" cycle:

The Birth of Arthur
The Round Table
The Lily Maid
Galahad
Avalon

Some years ago, there were excepts from The Lily Maid on Radio 3, but Boughton's work was never rewarded by the production of a complete cycle. The last two operas have never been performed.

His reputation suffered, all the way from scandalising the nice people of Glastonbury with his lifestyle to becoming a Communist and friend of Alan Bush in the 1930s, and then having his music seen as no longer fashionable, if it ever had been, in the modernist-inclined 1950s. In many ways a hippy before his time - today he'd be celebrated as progenitor of the Glastonbury Festival.

[Bryn]

Re The Immortal Hour: "The opera ran in London for 216 consecutive performances in 1922, and for a further 160 performances the following year, and was staged in New York City in 1926."

That (1926) was when Boughton's support for the General Strike boosted his fall from grace, IIRC.

[Katzelmacher]

I got to know The Immortal Hour this year, via the Hyperion recording which is now pushing 40 years of age.

A nice piece, very much of its time - I think of it as a close operatic relation of JM Barrie’s Mary Rose.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Of the three operas currently "available", the first got to know was Bethlehem, the work that began his reputational downfall, in that he staged the birth of Jesus in a miner's cottage......
......The Queen of Cornwall is in a class of its own. Thomas Hardy's take on the Tristan & Isolde story assists a fine English opera. It may appear to lie in the shadow of Wagner's great work, but the story is very different (with two Isoldes) and the music is English music drama at its finest. The Dutton Recording is still available.

The great omission is the complete absence of Boughton's 5-opera "English Ring" cycle:
The Birth of Arthur
The Round Table
The Lily Maid
Galahad
Avalon

It would be quite ambitious to complete the opera recordings with the five Arthurian operas..........

As to the Queen of Cornwall its available on Qobuz (although, as a download, I can't see a booklet :( ) Your recommendation intrigues me....... (I don't subscribe to Qobuz streaming - yet (see below)).

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/rutland-boughton-the-queen-of-cornwall-the-london-chorus-new-london-orchestra/0765387725624

Thanks to Jayne LW for pointing out that Dutton recordings - or at least some of them - are available on Qobuz:

................Here are the Dutton Epochs.... https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/search?q...och&i=boutique