Opera - A Dinner Engagement
LENNOX BERKELEY
(1903-1989)
premiere recording
A Dinner Engagement, Op. 45
59:31
An Opera in Two Scenes
Libretto by Paul Dehn
Scene 1
1
'Salt, pepper, olive oil'
4:00
Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Boy
2
'I'm sorry, Milady, I came through the front door'
3:25
Mrs Kneebone, Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow
3
'In the summer of my time'
4:05
Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Mrs Kneebone
4
'At Missis Ellibank's in Wimbledon'
2:27
Mrs Kneebone, Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow
5
'Mother, please can I help?'
5:26
Susan, Lady Dunmow, Mrs Kneebone, Lord Dunmow
6
'He was a quiet little boy'
3:30
Lady Dunmow, Susan, Mrs Kneebone, Lord Dunmow
7
'Prenez six belles tomates'
3:31
Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow, Mrs Kneebone, Susan
8
'Is this the residence of the Earl and Countess of Dunmow?'
1:45
Prince Philippe, Mrs Kneebone
Scene 2
9
'So this, dear Lady Dunmow, is your drawing room'
2:12
Duchess, Lady Dunmow, Prince Philippe, Lord Dunmow
10
'I never moved a muscle'
2:20
Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Duchess, Prince Philippe
11
'Forgive my curiosity, but is your servant that young girl. . .?'
3:28
Prince Philippe, Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Duchess
12
'Come and see our little garden'
2:05
Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow, Prince Philippe, Duchess
13
'This way, Ma'am, through the back door'
2:49
Lord Dunmow, Duchess, Prince Philippe, Susan
14
'Oh, shall I kneel in shame. . .?'
2:50
Susan, Prince Philippe
15
'I like to imagine how these must have looked'
4:14
Susan, Prince Philippe
16
'Mon aimée attend la lune'
2:08
Prince Philippe
17
'Kiss her at once!'
3:24
Duchess, Prince Philippe, Susan, Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Boy
18
'Let her beauty be her dowry'
2:43
Duchess, Susan, Prince Philippe, Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Boy, Mrs Kneebone
19
'My Lords, Ladies, Duchess and gentlemen!'
3:01
Mrs Kneebone, Prince Philippe, Susan
Roderick Williams baritone - The Earl of Dunmow
Yvonne Kenny soprano - The Countess of Dunmow
Claire Rutter soprano - Susan
Jean Rigby mezzo-soprano - Mrs Kneebone
Anne Collins mezzo-soprano - HRH The Grand Duchess of Monteblanco
Robin Leggate tenor - HRH Prince Philippe
Blake Fischer tenor - An Errand Boy
Richard Hickox
23-27 September 2003