Immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Frederic Austin's 2011 release, "Austin: The Beggar's Opera - Polly." This captivating album is a meticulous revival of John Gay's 1728 ballad opera, "The Beggar's Opera," and its sequel, "Polly," both originally set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch. Austin, a renowned figure in the restoration and revival of these works, brings a fresh perspective to these classic pieces, offering a unique blend of historical authenticity and modern interpretation.
Spanning a concise yet engaging 68 minutes, the album features a rich tapestry of arias, choruses, and dialogues that bring to life the colorful characters and intricate plotlines of Gay's operas. The Beggar's Opera, a satirical take on the popular opera styles of the time, tells the story of the charming highwayman Macheath and his entanglements with the law and love. Polly, its sequel, continues the narrative, delving deeper into the lives of the characters and their moral dilemmas.
Austin's interpretation is not just a faithful rendition but also a creative exploration of the original works. His arrangements and the performances by the cast, including notable names like Roy Henderson and Constance Willis, breathe new life into these centuries-old pieces. The album is a testament to Austin's deep understanding and appreciation of the source material, as well as his innovative approach to classical music.
The Beggar's Opera and Polly are known for their wit, humor, and social commentary, and Austin's album captures these elements beautifully. The music, ranging from lively and energetic to tender and melancholic, complements the narrative perfectly, making for an engaging and enjoyable listening experience. Whether you're a seasoned opera enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this album offers a delightful introduction to the world of ballad operas and the enduring appeal of Gay's works.
Tracks
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: Virgins Are like the fair flower (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: Can love be controlled by advice? (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: O Polly, you might have toy'd and kiss'd (Mrs. Peachum, Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: A fox may steal your hens (Mrs. Peachum) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: O ponder well (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: The turtle thus with plaintive crying (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: My heart was so free (Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: Were I laid on Greenland's coast (Polly, Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act I: Oh! What pain It Is to part (Polly, Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Fill every glass (Filch, Chorus) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Let us take the road (Filch, Chorus) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: If the heart of a man (Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Music to a Dialogue (After J.C. Pepusch Version)Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Why, how now Madame Flirt? (Molly Brazen, Mrs. Vixen) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Before the barn door crowing (Jenny Diver, Ladies Chorus) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Man may escape from rope and gun (Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Thus when a good housewife sees a rat (Lucy) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: The first time at the looking glass (Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Thus gamesters united in friendship Are found (Peachum, Lockit) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Thus when the swallow (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: How happy I could be with either (Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: I'm bubbled, I'm troubled (Polly, Lucy) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act II: Cease your funning (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act III: Here in a humour I was of late (Tenor, Chorus) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act III: The modes of the Court so common Are grown (Macheath, Filch, Chorus) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act III: In the days of my youth (Diana Trapes, Peachum, Lockit) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act III: Interlude (After J.C. Pepusch Version)Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act III: I'm like a skiff on the ocean tost (Lucy) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act III: O cruel, cruel case (Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
The Beggar's Opera, Act III: Would I might be hanged (Polly, Lucy, Macheath) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Arthur Wynn, Frederick Ranalaw, Alfred Heather, Nellie Walker, Nonny Lock, Sylvia Nelis, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Studio Chorus, Eugene Goossens
Polly, Act I: She who hath felt a real pain (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Clifford Bax, Lilian Davies, Stanley Vilven, Winifred Hare, Pitt Chatham, Percy Parsons, Adrienne Brune, Lovat Crosley, Gladys Sinclair, Studio Chorus, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Eugene Goossens
Polly, Act I: The Crow or Daw (Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Clifford Bax, Lilian Davies, Stanley Vilven, Winifred Hare, Pitt Chatham, Percy Parsons, Adrienne Brune, Lovat Crosley, Gladys Sinclair, Studio Chorus, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Eugene Goossens
Polly, Act I: I will have my humours (Mr. Ducat, Polly) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Clifford Bax, Frederic Austin, Lilian Davies, Stanley Vilven, Winifred Hare, Pitt Chatham, Percy Parsons, Adrienne Brune, Lovat Crosley, Gladys Sinclair, Studio Chorus, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Eugene Goossens
Polly, Act I: When a woman jealous grows (Mr. And Mrs. Ducat) [After J.C. Pepusch Version]Frederic Austin, Clifford Bax, Lilian Davies, Stanley Vilven, Winifred Hare, Pitt Chatham, Percy Parsons, Adrienne Brune, Lovat Crosley, Gladys Sinclair, Studio Chorus, Kingsway Theatre Orchestra, Eugene Goossens
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