King Priam - Production details

Opera in three acts (1958-61)
125 minutes
Text by the composer

Priam, King of Troy - bass baritone Hecuba, his wife - dramatic soprano Hector, their eldest son - baritone Andromache, Hector's wife - lyric dramatic soprano Paris, Priam's second son - boy soprano/tenor Helen, wife to Menelaus, then wife in adultery to Paris - mezzo soprano Achilles, a Greek hero - heroic tenor Patroclus, his friend - light baritone Nurse - mezzo soprano Old man - bass Young Guard - lyric tenor Hermes, a messenger of the Gods - high light tenor
Chorus of Hunters, Wedding guests, Serving Women, etc. (SATB)
2 (2 piccolos) 1 cor anglais 1 clarinet in E flat bass clarinet 1 contrabassoon - 4 4 2 1 - timpani percussion (3 players: snare drum, bass drum, cymbal, wood block, tambourine, triangle, tam-tam, xylophone) - harp piano (celesta) guitar - strings (minimum players: 6 4 4 2) Vocal score ED 10787
Libretto ED 10787a

Written for the Koussevitsky Foundation in memory of Natalie Koussevitsky. First performance by Covent Garden Opera conducted by Sir John Pritchard, produced by Sam Wanamaker, scenery and costumes by Sean Kenny with lighting by William Bundy at the Coventry Cathedral Festival, 29 May 1962

Nurse: Noreen Berry
Hecuba: Maria Collier
Priam: Forbes Robinson
Old Man: David Kelly
Young Guard: Robert Bowan
Hector: Victor Godfrey
Paris: (as a young boy) Philip Doghan
Paris: (as a man) John Dobson
Helen: Margreta Elkins
Hermes: John Lanigan
Andromache: Josephine Veasey
Archilles: Richard Lewis
Patroclus: Joseph Ward
Serving Woman: Paula Dean

1963 Badisches Staatstheater, Karlsruhe
Producer: Carl-Heinrich Kreith
Conductor: Arthur Grueber

1975; 1985 Royal Opera House
Producer: Sam Wanamaker
Conductor: David Atherton

1984 Kent Opera
Producer: Nicholas Hytner
Conductor: Roger Norrington

1985 Athens Festival (Royal Opera)

1988 Opera Nancy: Antoine Bourseiller
Conductor: Paul Daniel

1990 Batignano
Producer: Graham Vick
Conductor: Ivor Bolton

1991 Opera North
Producers: Tom Cairns / Aletta Collins
Conductor: Paul Daniel

1992; 1996 Vlaamse Opera
Producers: Tom Cairns / Aletta Collins
Conductor: Elgar Howarth

1994 San Francisco Opera Center Showcase
Producer: Christopher Hahn
Conductor: Donald Runnicles

1995 English National Opera (revised Opera North production)
Producers: Tom Cairns / Aletta Collins
Conductor: Paul Daniel