Musgrave: Mary, Queen of Scots

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Mary is a role fit for any prima donna. Ashley Putnam is magnetically convincing, maintaining strength throughout, yet never missing the Queen’s vulnerability, and soaring through the devastating... — BBC Music Magazine, October 2018, 4 out of 5 stars/3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 13th Jul 2018
Catalogue No: SRCD2369
Label: Lyrita
Length: 2 hours 12 minutes

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Musgrave: Mary, Queen of Scots

Work length2:12:28

Album only

Virginia Opera Orchestra, Virginia Opera Chorus
Peter Mark
Recorded: 2 April 1978
Recording Venue: Live recording, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Act 1, Scene 1: "Cardinal Beaton's Study"

Track length10:49

$3.00

$3.85

Act 1, Scene 2: "Mary's arrival in Scotland"

Track length14:41

$3.00

$3.85

Act 1, Scene 3: "Peace Chorus"

Track length5:41

$1.00

$1.30

Act 1, Scene 4: "Ballroom at Holyrood"

Track length22:12

Album only

Act 2, Scene 1: "Council Scene - Provocation Scene"

Track length18:18

$4.00

$5.15

Act 2, Scene 2: "Confrontation Scene"

Track length13:02

$3.00

$3.85

Act 2, Scene 3: "Supper Room Scene"

Track length6:41

$1.00

$1.30

Act 2, Scene 4: "Second Council Scene"

Track length9:55

$2.00

$2.60

Act 3, Scene 1: "Opening - Mary's Lullaby"

Track length11:04

$3.00

$3.85

Act 3, Scene 2: "Seduction Scene"

Track length9:32

$2.00

$2.60

Act 3, Scene 3: "Mary's Soliloquy - Finale"

Track length10:33

$3.00

$3.85

About
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About

Mary has been a fascinating subject to work with. It was interesting and challenging to find a path through all the well-known facts about her life, in order to be able to envision her with fresh eyes and gradually to shape my own portrait of her. My interest in her as a subject was first aroused by a basic idea of Amalia Elguera, (who had written the libretto for my previous opera The Voice of Ariadne) and on whose play Moray the opera is based. Here the emphasis lies, as the title implies, on Mary’s half brother James Stewart. I soon decided that in the opera, although the chief protagonist would be James, the central character must be Mary herself.

Reviews

October 2018

Mary is a role fit for any prima donna. Ashley Putnam is magnetically convincing, maintaining strength throughout, yet never missing the Queen’s vulnerability, and soaring through the devastating final scenes, while Jake Gardner catches the jealous ferment of James. At the helm, conductor Peter Mark balances the powerful singing of the full cast and the colourful orchestration to fine effect.

November 2018

Musgrave’s music guides the listener through clearly enough. It has nearly everything…and it is this human drama that is the opera’s strong suit. This production is not perfect (and is 40 years old), but it still delivers quite a powerful punch and I happily recommend it.

November 2018

The colourful court dances and Riccio’s lute song that make the most impact. Such excellent singers are Jon Garrison and Jake Gardner.

Offer,Musgrave: Mary, Queen of Scots

2 CDs

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