The Dancing Master

Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006)

A Buxton International Festival production in collaboration with John Andrews and Red Squirrel Opera and the Northern Chamber Orchestra ’An absolute zinger of a score’ (Gramophone). ’A musical gem’ (The Times). ’A work of striking charm’ (The Telegraph). This is how the critics responded to the BBC Concert Orchestra’s recording of Malcolm Arnold’s The Dancing Master. It is astonishing that this witty, and vivacious opera did not receive a single staging in his lifetime. Film-maker Joe Mendoza suggested to Arnold they create a televised opera based on Wycherley’s 1671 play The Gentleman Dancing Master. A copy of the script was duly sent with Mendoza expecting comments and suggestions. Instead, two weeks later, the completed score landed on his desk: riotously colourful with flamboyant orchestral writing and unending melodic invention. It tells the tale of Miranda, who is being romantically pursued by her fierce aunt’s son, the ludicrous ‘Monsieur’. Miranda, though, prefers hapless but charming Gerard. When her father catches Gerard in her bedroom, they claim he is a dancing master preparing her for a dance with ‘Monsieur’. After some initial confusion, Miranda and Gerard conduct a secret marriage, which her father has no option but to approve. Disaster struck when BBC executives rejected the opera as ’too bawdy for family audiences’. Arnold tried Granada instead, singing the whole opera to the executives, but to no avail. The opera quite literally disappeared: its wicked wit, vivid characters, and endless melodic lyricism languishing on a library shelf whilst Arnold’s career raced onwards and upwards. So, now we’ll imagine that those executives were just a little more imaginative and had at least let Arnold and their star performers into the BBC Radio Theatre for a couple of hours. Libretto by J H Mendoza. Sung in English. Supported by Dr Faber and Guests DATES & TIMES

Fri 9 July 7.15pm Tue 13 July 7.15pm Fri 16 July 7.15pm Thurs 22 July 7.15pm

VENUE

Buxton Opera House

TICKETS

£25 – £78

£10 Under 35s offer for Next Gen Friends of BIF, from 1 June. Proof of age required

CREATIVE TEAM

John Andrews Conductor Susan Moore Director and Designer Ben Pickersgill Lighting Designer

CAST

Eleanor Dennis Miranda, an heiress Catherine Carby Pru, her maid Fiona Kimm Mistress Caution, Miranda’s aunt David Webb Gerard, a rake Mark Wilde Monsieur, Mistress Caution’s French-educated son Graeme Broadbent Don Diego, Miranda’s father

The duration of the performance is 75 minutes. Full details on our website.

The Dancing Master is a brilliant rediscovery… one imagines that Arnold had Falstaff and Gianni Schicchi at the back of his mind: his score has something of their mercurial effervescence and it fairly trips along, charged with rumbustious humour and never sounding forced or out of breath.

Rupert Christiansen The Telegraph