{{Short description|1740 masque, later an opera}} {{For|the opera by Antonín Dvořák|Alfred (Dvořák)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox opera | name = Alfred | type = Masque (later opera) | composer = Thomas Arne | image = Thomas Augustine Arne.png | image_upright = 0.8 | caption = 1778 portrait of the composer | librettist = {{plainlist| * David Mallet * James Thomson }} | based_on = Life of Alfred the Great | premiere_date = {{start date|1740|08|01|df=y}} | premiere_location = Cliveden }} '''''Alfred''''' is a sung stage work about Alfred the Great with music by Thomas Arne and libretto by David Mallet and James Thomson. The work was initially devised as a masque in 1740 and was first performed at Cliveden, country home of Frederick, Prince of Wales, on 1 August 1740 to commemorate the accession of his grandfather George I<!-- As a *commemoration* of George I's accession in *August* 1714, is correct. --> and the birthday of the Princess Augusta.<ref>''London Daily Post'', 2 August 1740, cited in {{cite journal|title=The Celebrated Ode in Honour of Great Britain, Called 'Rule, Britannia'|journal=The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular|volume=41|number=686|date=1 April 1900|pages=228–231|jstor=3368400|doi=10.2307/3368400}}</ref> Arne later revised the work turning it into an all-sung oratorio in 1745 and then an opera in 1753. It is best known for its finale "Rule, Britannia!".
==Background and performance history==
Frederick, Prince of Wales made considerable efforts to demonstrate his British nationality and identity, to distinguish himself from his German father George II, with whom he was on very poor terms.<ref name="McG sleeve notes">{{Cite book |last=McGegan |first=Nicholas |title=Thomas Arne: Alfred |publisher=Deutsche Harmonia Mundi |year=1999 |pages=5–8}} Sleeve notes to McGegan recording on CD</ref> The masque ''Alfred'', to a text by David Mallet and James Thomson, was first performed at Frederick's country home at Cliveden on 1 August 1740.<ref name="McG sleeve notes" /> It was the ideal entertainment for him: a mixture of romantic heroism and British patriotism.<ref name="McG sleeve notes" />
In its original form, ''Alfred'' contained only eight vocal sections and the overture, including the famous patriotic song "Rule, Britannia!".<ref name="McG sleeve notes" /> Arne later significantly expanded the work, and the printed score of 1753 runs to 27 musical numbers.<ref name="McG sleeve notes" /> The libretto included additional pieces, including several choruses, the music for which is now lost.<ref name="McG sleeve notes" /> An expanded version of the work was first performed in London in March 1745.<ref name="McG sleeve notes" />
==Roles== {| class="wikitable" |+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}} !Roles !Voice type !Premiere cast, 1 August 1740<ref>{{Almanacco|dmy=01-08-1740|match=Alfred|label=''Alfred'', 1 August 1740}}</ref><br />Conductor: Thomas Arne |- |Alfred |tenor |Thomas Lowe |- |Emma/Venus |soprano |Kitty Clive |- |Spirit/Pallas/Paris |mezzo-soprano |Susannah Maria Cibber |- |Bard/Mercury |bass | |}
==Synopsis==
The following synopsis is based on the work as performed in London at the King's Theatre in 1753 and the Drury Lane Theatre in 1754 and is the version performed by Bampton Classical Opera in 1998.<ref>Heighes, Simon (1998). [http://www.bamptonopera.org/operadetail.htm?opera=28 "Restoring ''Alfred''"]. Bampton Classical Opera. Retrieved 29 September 2015. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905075447/http://www.bamptonopera.org/operadetail.htm?opera=28 |date=5 September 2015 }}</ref>
The setting is the Isle of Athelney in the year 878. Following a defeat by the Vikings, Alfred has taken refuge in the hut of the shepherd Corin and his wife Emma who wonder about the mysterious stranger. Alfred expresses his anguish at the state of affairs of his kingdom and prays to the Genius of Britannia. Alfred's wife Eltruda and his son Edward arrive and rejoice at finding him alive. Corin and Emma still have no idea who their guests really are.
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Rule, Britannia.ogg|title="Rule, Britannia!"|description=Phonograph cylinder recorded by Albert Farrington in 1914 for Edison Records}} Later, Edward brings news that twelve hundred Britons loyal to Alfred are camped nearby and awaiting his command. Emma and Corrin now realise the true identity of their guests as Alfred departs for battle. When news of his victory reaches them, all rejoice. Edward praises the return of British values. Alfred exhorts his people: "Britons, proceed, the subject deep command, awe with your navies ev'ry hostile land". In response, all sing "Rule Britannia", an ode in honour of Great Britain.
==Recordings== * ''Thomas Arne's Alfred'' – Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Nicholas Kraemer (conductor), 1997. BBC Music Vol.V No. 10 * ''Thomas Arne: Alfred'' – Philarmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, Nicholas McGegan (conductor), 1999. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite encyclopedia |last=Arne |first=Thomas |authorlink=Thomas Arne |author2=David Mallet |author3= James Thomson |editor=Alexander Scott|encyclopedia=Musica Britannica |title=''Alfred''|edition=full score, Urtext edition|year=1981|publisher=Stainer & Bell |volume=XLVII |location=London |id= |isbn=0-85249-476-9 |oclc= |doi= |pages= |quote= |ref=none}} *Michael Burden (1988). "A mask for politics; the masque of Alfred", ''Music Review'', xli (1988), 21–30. *Michael Burden (1991). "The English Theatre Masque 1690–1800". 2 vols. PhD diss., University of Edinburgh. *Michael Burden (1994). ''Garrick, Arne, and the Masque of Alfred''. (New York).
==External links== *{{IMSLP|work=The Masque of Alfred (Arne, Thomas Augustine)|cname=''The Masque of Alfred''}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080905022426/http://goldbergweb.com/en/discography/1999/4899.php Review] of the Deutsche Harmonia Mundi recording of ''Alfred'' in Goldberg Magazine.
{{Thomas Arne}} {{authority control}}
Category:Masques Category:1740 operas Category:Operas set in the 9th century Category:Operas Category:Operas by Thomas Arne Category:English-language operas Category:Cultural depictions of Alfred the Great Category:Frederick, Prince of Wales Category:Princess Augusta of Great Britain