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Phaedra (cantata)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phaedra, Op. 93, is a cantata for mezzo-soprano and orchestra by Benjamin Britten, written for Janet Baker.[1]

History

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Phaedra was the composer's last vocal work, written in 1975 and first performed by Dame Janet Baker at the Aldeburgh Festival on 16 June 1976.[2] Britten assembled the libretto from parts of a translation of Racine's Phèdre by Robert Lowell.[3] Stylistically, it draws from the Baroque cantata tradition.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Carpenter, Humphrey (1992). Benjamin Britten: A Biography. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-14324-5. p. 596.
  2. ^ Moore, Lloyd. "About this recording". Naxos. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. ^ James, E.D.; Jondorf, G. (1994). Racine : Phèdre. Cambridge University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-521-39721-6.
  4. ^ "MODA Triple Opera". The Göteborg Opera. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2013.