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KING ARTHUR
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KING ARTHUR A SEMI - OPERA BY HENRY PURCELL
13 – 21 JANUARY 2022 SAMUEL BECKETTE THEATRE Conductor - DAVID ADAMS Director - AOIFE SPILLANE-HICK
The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 15 mins. There will be one interval of 15 mins. Please make certain that your mobile phone is turned off during the performance.
KING ARTHUR
CONTENT
Introduction
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Synopsis
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Credits
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KING ARTHUR
WELCOME
Liam Doona Head of Design and Visual Arts IADT
The Institute of Art, Design and Technology is once again delighted to be working with Royal Irish Academy of Music for this, our fifth annual opera collaboration.Students from our Design for Stage and Screen Ba (Hons) undertake an intensive four year programmewith us and a key part of that experience is working on realised productions such as this evening’s opera. The programme at IADT offers specialist studyfor production designers, costume designers and makeup/character designers who go on to work in theatre, film, television and associated practices. The work you will see tonight is primarily by our thirdyears and marks an important and exciting point in their studies asthey gather and demonstrate further creative and technical skills in taking performance from initial concept through to the finished production. We extend our congratulations, thanks and best wishes to all the students and staff who made this performance possible and we hope you enjoy the show.
Kathleen Tynan Head of Faculty
There has been a terrific team spirit throughout the months of rehearsal and preparation for this production. I am indebted to my colleagues in the vocal faculty of the RIAM and the tutors at IADT and to the professional production team who have worked with a great enthusiasm towards the realisation of this production. I hope you enjoy the performance.
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KING ARTHUR
“My heart and vows go with him to the fight; may every foe be that, which they call blind, and none of all their swords have eyes to find him.” Emmeline, Prologue
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SYNOPSIS
KING ARTHUR
King Arthur, or The British Worthy is a semi-opera in five acts with music by Henry Purcell and a libretto by John Dryden. The plot is based on the battles between King Arthur’s Britons and the Saxons. It is a Restoration spectacular, including such supernatural characters. The tale centres on Arthur’s endeavours to recover his fiance, the blind Cornish Princess Emmeline, who has been abducted by his arch-enemy, the Saxon King Oswald of Kent.
KING ARTHUR
ACT I SCENE ONE
SCENE TWO
The Britons prepare for the battle which will decide who will rule their land the Chvristian Arthur or Saxon Oswald. Arthur meets Emmeline and tries to explain to her what seeing means. A trumpet calls Arthur to the battle. Oswald and his magician Osmond sacrifice horses and pray to the Saxon gods for victory in the coming battle. Osmond’s servant, the spirit Grimbald, arrives and says he has persuaded six Saxons to offer themselves as a human sacrifice.
ACT II SCENE ONE
SCENE TWO
Philidel tells Merlin that Grimbald is planning to deceive the victorious Britons by leading them to drown in rivers or fall off cliffs. Merlin leaves Philidel his band of spirits to save the Britons from this trap. Emmeline and her maid Matilda await news of the battle. Oswald and his comrade Guillamar stray from the battlefield, chance upon the pavilion and kidnap Emmeline and Matilda.
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ACT III SCENE ONE
SCENE TWO
Arthur and his men attack Oswald’s castle but Osmond’s magic defeats them. Merlin promises to help Arthur reach Emmeline and restore her sight with potion in a vial. Merlin asks Philidel to guide Arthur through the wood and gives him the vial, which the spirit uses to rid Emmeline of her blindness. Emmeline is amazed at the new world before her eyes.
ACT IV SCENE ONE
SCENE TWO
The freed Grimbald warns Osmond that Arthur is approaching the enchanted wood, where Merlin has undone his spells. Osmond decides to replace the threatening spells with seductive ones. Merlin leaves Arthur at the entrance to the wood with the spirit Philidel as his guide. Philidel has a wand which will banish all magical deception. Arthur hears seductive music from two Sirens bathing in a stream.
KING ARTHUR
“ You say, ‘t is love creates the pain, of which so sadly you complain; and yet would fain engage my heart in that uneasy cruel part. But how, alas! think you, that I can bear the wound of which you die?” You say ‘tis love, Part 1
ACT V SCENE ONE
SCENE TWO
Now his magic has been destroyed, Osmond is terrified of the approaching Arthur. He decides he must persuade Oswald to fight for him. Arthur and the Britons are preparing to storm the castle when Oswald comes out and challenges his rival to single combat for the hand of Emmeline and the crown. They fight and Arthur disarms Oswald. Arthur spares his life but tells Oswald he and his Saxons must return to Germany. smond is cast into a dungeon with Grimbald.
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KING ARTHUR
“ I freeze, as if your impious art had fix’d my feet to earth.” Emmeline, Scene Seven
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CREDITS
CAST
King Arthur Emmeline Grimbald Oswald Merlin High Priestess Philidel Cold Genius Saxon Soprano Saxon Alto Briton Soprano Briton Alti
KING ARTHUR
MATTHEW MANION NIAMH SHEEHY SEAMUS BRADY CEALLACHAN SAMANTHA B EMMA HILS LAURA ANNA-HELENA M CAROLINE BEHAN STEPHANIE KINSELLA ANNA-MARIA HUSCA RACHAEL C
CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor Director Lighting Design Movement Design Set Design Costume Design Make up
DAVID ADAMS AOIFE SPILLANE-HICK PAUL KEOGAN PAULA O’REILLY KATHYANN MURPHY GARY DEEGAN HAZEL MORAN
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producer Production Manager Stage Management Rehearsal Repetiteur Costume Supervisor Hair&Make -Up Publicity Photography
KATHLEEN TYNAN MICHAEL KYLE MARY KILDUFF ADAM COLLINS CLODAGH DEEGAN FIONA HOGAN STEPHANIE DICKENSON COLM HOGAN
ORCHESTRA
Violin 2nd Violin 3rd Violin Viola 2nd Viola 3rd Viola Cello 2nd Cello
NAOISE DACK LUCIE HELLEBOID REBECCA O’CONNELL BARBARA BAMBERSKA VICTORIA BROOKS SEBASTIAN ADAMS GABRELE DIKCUTIE ZOE STEDJE
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“ Rest we contented with our present state; ‘tis anxious to enquire of future fate. That race of heroes is enough alone for all unseen disasters to atone.” Emmeline, Scene Nine, Finale
KING ARTHUR
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAY AND PREVIOUS OPERA VISIT WWW. RIAM.IE
KING ARTHUR