A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1982) – THEA MUSGRAVE’S OPERA VERSION

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1982) – Balladeer’s Blog’s 2024 edition of my annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon continues with this EXPANDED look at the great Thea Musgrave’s opera version from Granada Television video in 1982.

Musgrave was British and in my opinion she was one of the few masters of opera from the late 20th Century. I’ve previously looked at her operas about Mary, Queen of Scots, Harriet Tubman and Simon Bolivar. 

As for her Christmas Carol opera, the world premiere of this most accessible of Thea’s works was on December 16th, 1981 at the Norfolk Center Theater. That Norfolk, VA production was by the Virginia Opera Association.

Later the opera debuted at the Royal Opera House in the U.K. and at the State Opera House in Australia.  

Musgrave’s A Christmas Carol had roles for 3 baritones and 1 bass baritone, 2 sopranos and 1 mezzo-soprano plus a children’s chorus. That was the minimum, if the production has each singer performing multiple roles (outside of Scrooge, who is almost constantly on-stage). Those figures can be doubled or tripled for larger productions like you would see performed at the major venues.    

This opera is in Two Acts and lasts approximately 3 hours.

Musgrave has also done the libretto and music for the celebrated operas Mary, Queen Of Scots … Harriet, The Woman Called Moses … Simon Bolivar  and most recently Pontalba in 2003.

The 1982 Granada TV broadcast of the Royal Opera House’s staging of the opera slimmed down the run-time with some cuts that I personally don’t agree with, but what can you do? 

The opera is fairly faithful with the most significant changes obviously being imposed by the format. For efficiency’s sake the only scene at nephew Fred’s home is at the very end so things can close on a very festive note.

Every performer except the ones playing Scrooge and the Spirit Of Christmas sing multiple roles. This was a taping of a performance in front of a live audience and runs 109 minutes.

FOR MORE VERSIONS OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL CLICK HERE:   https://glitternight.com/category/a-christmas-carol-2/

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