We turn to England for this week’s Sunday Opera (2/1 3:00 p.m.) for the only full-length opera by Sir William Walton, his 1954 treatment of a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer about the doomed love of “Troilus and Cressida." This recording from Opera North features a roster of some of the best-loved voices in British opera.
Cressida (Judith Howarth) is the daughter of the high priest of Troy, Calkas (Clive Bayley), is in love with Troilus (Arthur Davies), the Prince of Troy. After Calkas tries to falsely convince the Trojans that the Oracle at Delphi has declared that the Greeks are sure to be victorious, but he is not believed and defects to the Greek camp. Through a series of misadventures and meddling by Calkas, Cressida is kept from Troilus until she promises herself to the Greek Prince Diomede (Alan Opie) setting in motion the tragic ending.
Other members of this cast include Yvonne Howard as Cressida’s duplicitous servant Evadne, Nigel Robson as Calkas’ brother Pandarus, James Thorton as Antenor, the captain of the Trojan Spears, David Owen-Lewis as Horaste, a friend of Pandarus, as well as Peter Bodenham as a Priest and Keith Mills as a Soldier.
Richard Hickox is our conductor in the recording from 1995, and he’s leading the Chorus of Opera North and the English Northern Philharmonia.
The afternoon will be filled with more music of Walton including his Symphony No. 2 in G minor, Spitfire Prelude & Fugue, and his much loved Crown Imperial. Also included will be Walton’s lesser-known ballet score entitled “The Quest,” an allegorical tale of good against evil based on a poem by Edmund Spenser.
