Britten, Benjamin. (1913–1976)

"The Rape of Lucretia" - Signed Score

London: Boosey and Hawkes. 1946. First edition. Piano Vocal Score, 9.5 x 12.25, 229 pages. [PN] H.15846. Signed on the first page in fountain pen, “With best wishes, Benjamin Britten 1967.” Partial separation to hinge of front cover (approx. 2 inches at top and bottom), uniform light toning to fore-edges, and light handling wear and creasing to covers and spine, otherwise fine condition.

"It was a combination of economic realities and aesthetic preferences that encouraged Britten to develop the concept of chamber opera, employing a small cast without chorus and an orchestra of just thirteen players. His first work in the new medium was The Rape of Lucretia, first performed just over a year after Peter Grimes, in 1946. There is, however, no loss of colour and atmosphere – indeed the pared-down textures produced an intensification of Britten’s operatic vision which was to serve him further in Albert Herring and The Turn of the Screw. With the roles of the Male and Female Chorus, who comment on the action ‘out of time’ (as in Greek tragedy) and the use of solo piano accompaniment to accompany recitative passages, Lucretia achieves a certain ‘classical’ poise and detachment. However, Lucretia and Tarquinius are flesh-and-blood characters driven by real human emotions and desires (Lucretia’s music is surely some of Britten’s most sheerly beautiful) and the resulting amalgam is an opera of great musico-dramatic power and expressive richness." (Britten-Pears Foundation Online) (5454)

Autograph Document Classical Music