Thea Musgrave writes of her work "Mary Queen of Scots": 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." This recording is of a live performance on 2 April, 1978 in Norfolk, Virginia, at the gala performance for the Metropolitan Opera. Lyrita is proud to present this re-issue of Mary, Queen of Scots to coincide with Thea Musgrave's 90th Birthday celebrations.

Tracklist:

Act I Scene 1: Cardinal Beaton's Study (Cardinal Baeton, James Stewart, Chorus) 00:10:52
Act I Scene 2: Mary's Arrival in Scotland (Mary, James Stewart, James Hepburn, Lord Gordon, Earl of Ruthven, Chorus) 00:14:42
Act I Scene 3: Peace Chorus (Chorus) 00:05:41
Act I Scene 1: Ballroom at Holyrood (Mary, Henry, James Hepburn, David Riccio, Lord Gordon, Earl of Morton, Earl of Ruthven, Cho
Act II Scene 1: Council Scene: Provocation Scene (David Riccio, Henry, Mary, Earl of Morton, Earl of Ruthven, Chorus) 00:18:21
Act II Scene 2: Confrontation Scene (Earl of Morton, Earl of Ruthven, Henry, James Stewart, Mary) 00:13:03
Act II Scene 3: Supper Room Scene (David Riccio, Mary Seton, Mary Beaton, Mary Livingstone, Mary Fleming, Mary, Chorus) 00:06:41
Act II Scene 4: Second Council Scene (Earl of Morton, Earl of Ruthven, James Stewart, Lord Gordon, Mary, Chorus) 00:09:55
Act III Scene 1: Opening - Mary's Lullaby (Mary, Mary Seton, Lord Gordon) 00:11:04 1
Act II Scene 2: Seduction Scene (James Hepbur, Mary, James Stewart, Lord Gordon, Chorus) 00:09:33 1
Act III Scene 3: Mary's Soliloquy: Finale (Mary, James Stewart, Earl of Ruthven, Chorus) 00:10:34

UPC: 5020926236920
Label: Lyrita
Release Date: 7.6.18
Format: CD

Musgrave / Sorianello / Serrano - Queen of Scots (CD)