Immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Frederic Austin's "Austin: The Beggar's Opera - Polly," a captivating rendition of John Gay's iconic ballad opera, released on August 2, 2011, under the Symposium label. This exquisite album spans a concise yet engaging 68 minutes, offering a rich tapestry of musical storytelling that blends wit, humor, and social commentary.
Frederic Austin, a renowned figure in the world of classical music, brings his unique interpretation to this beloved work, originally composed by Johann Christoph Pepusch. The album is divided into two main acts, "The Beggar's Opera" and "Polly," each brimming with memorable tunes and vivid characters that have enchanted audiences for centuries.
"The Beggar's Opera" delves into the mischievous antics of the roguish highwayman Macheath and his beloved Polly, weaving a tale of love, deceit, and redemption. The first act sets the stage with lively arias and duets, showcasing Austin's mastery of the genre. Standout tracks include "Virgins Are like the fair flower," "Were I laid on Greenland's coast," and "Oh! What pain It Is to part," each highlighting the album's rich vocal performances and intricate orchestration.
The second act, "Polly," continues the narrative with a focus on the adventures of Polly and her pirate suitors. Tracks like "A Pirate must either sink," "Brave Boys, prepare!" and "Virtue's treasure" showcase Austin's ability to infuse the music with a sense of adventure and drama. The album culminates in a poignant and reflective finale, leaving the listener with a sense of satisfaction and a desire to revisit this enchanting world.
Austin's "The Beggar's Opera - Polly" is a testament to the enduring appeal of this classic work, offering a fresh and vibrant interpretation that will delight both seasoned opera enthusiasts and newcomers alike. With its engaging storytelling, memorable melodies, and superb performances, this album is a must-listen for anyone seeking a taste of the timeless charm of 18th-century ballad opera.
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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