Opera - Ruth
LENNOX BERKELEY
(1903-1989)
premiere recording
Ruth, Op. 50
78:54
An Opera in Three Scenes
Libretto by Eric Crozier
Scene 1
1
A mountainous place near Bethlehem
1:57
2
'Once more I see your green and golden hills, O Judah!'
3:05
Naomi, Ruth, Orpah
3
'Turn back, my daughters'
1:38
Naomi, Ruth, Orpah
4
'Almighty Father, let my cry come unto thee!'
3:13
Naomi, Orpah, Ruth
5
'Ah, must I leave thee? Must we part?'
3:23
Orpah, Naomi, Ruth
6
'Whither thou goest, I will go'
3:02
Ruth, Naomi
7
'See! Is this Naomi!?'
2:14
Women, Naomi
8
'Ah, call me not Naomi, let Mara be my name'
2:32
Naomi
9
'Where, ah, where is Naomi?'
2:21
Women, Naomi, Ruth
Scene 2
10
A harvest field belonging to Boaz -
1:45
'Gold grows the barley on hillside and valley'
Men
11
'Greetings, men of Judah!'
1:05
Women, Head Reaper
12
'The scatter'd ear of corn'
1:55
Women, Men
13
'Come, let us go forth together'
3:23
Head Reaper, Women, Men, Ruth
14
'Stay, men of Judah!'
2:17
Boaz, Men, Women, Head Reaper, Ruth
15
'I had no wish to anger them'
3:19
Ruth, Boaz, Head Reaper
16
'Ah, let not anger fill your eyes!'
3:05
Ruth, Boaz
17
'Whence cometh this to me, that thou should'st deign to notice me?'
3:47
Ruth, Boaz
18
'The scatter'd ear of corn'
2:25
Women, Men, Boaz
Scene 3
19
A threshing-floor, at night -
2:11
'This is the place! Come, daughter'
Naomi, Ruth
20
'Fear not, beloved Ruth!'
2:42
Naomi, Ruth
21
'Golden ripe the barley grows'
1:11
Women, Men, Naomi, Ruth, Head Reaper, Boaz
22
'Lord of the Harvest, what are thy commands?'
1:47
Men, Head Reaper, Women, Boaz
23
'Winter time is time to plough, aie, the wind does bite!'
1:14
Men, Women
24
'Across the field the long slow line of reapers goes a-reaping'
1:33
Women
25
'Dance, come dance, dance within the ring'
1:39
Women, Men, Head Reaper
26
'O clap your hands, all ye people!'
2:22
Boaz, Women, Men
27
'Go now, my daughter'
1:50
Naomi, Ruth
28
'Master!'
1:42
Ruth, Boaz
29
'Thou comest in the stillness of the night'
4:22
Boaz, Ruth
30
'Lo, my beloved, my soul's delight, to thee I give my hand'
1:53
Boaz, Ruth
31
'Ho there, my people!'
1:39
Boaz, Ruth, Naomi, Women, Men
32
'Behold this maid'
3:25
Boaz, Ruth, Naomi, Head Reaper, Women, Men
33
'Rejoice, O Israel, rejoice'
2:41
Head Reaper, Women, Men, Ruth, Naomi, Boaz
Jean Rigby mezzo-soprano - Ruth
Mark Tucker tenor - Boaz
Yvonne Kenny soprano - Naomi
Claire Rutter soprano - Orpah
Roderick Williams baritone - Head Reaper
Richard Hickox
23 & 25-27 September 2003