Benjamin Britten: Gloriana
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
Royal Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Paul Daniel, conductor
CAST: Susan Bullock (Queen Elizabeth I); Toby Spence (Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex); Patricia Bardon (Countess of Essex); Mark Stone (Lord Mountjoy); Kate Royal (Penelope); Peter Coleman-Wright (Sir Robert Cecil); Clive Bayley (Sir Walter Raleigh)
Written for the coronation of Britain's current queen, Elizabeth II, Glorianatells the much-repeated story of the Elisabeth I and the Earl of Essex. Now a popular and successful score, it was snubbed at first, for paying less than perfect respect to the history of the monarchy.