A dramatic opera.


Libretto by

John DRYDEN


Music by

Henry PURCELL


First performance: May 1691, London, Queen's Theatre.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Description, name
[sex]		 Voice type
[first performer, sex]		 

Men

King Arthur

  [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ Thomas Betterton,  ♂ ]

  

Oswald

king of Kent, a Saxon and a heathen   [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ Joseph Williams,  ♂ ]

  

Conon

duke of Cornwall, tributary to king Arthur   [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ John Hodgson,  ♂ ]

  

Merlin

a famous inchanter   [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ Edward Kynaston,  ♂ ]

  

Osmond

a Saxon magician and a heathen   [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ Samuel Sanford,  ♂ ]

  

Aurelius

friend to Arthur   [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ John Verbruggen "Alexander",  ♂ ]

  

Albanact

captain of Arthur's guards   [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ William Bowen,  ♂ ]

  

Guillamar

friend of Oswald   [ ♂ ]

  

other
[ Joseph Harris,  ♂ ]

  

Women

Emmeline

daughter of Conon   [ ♀ ]

  

other
[ Anne Bracegirdle,  ♀ ]

  

Matilda

her attendant   [ ♀ ]

  

other
[ Richardson,  ♀ ]

  

Deities, Spirits, etc. etc.

Aeolus

  [ ♂ ]

  

bass
[ ?,  ♂ ]

  

Honour

  [ ♂ ]

  

soprano
[ ?,  ♀ ]

  

Venus

  [ ♀ ]

  

soprano
[ ?,  ♀ ]

  

Philidel

an aery spirit   [ ♂ ]

  

soprano
[ Charlotte Butler,  ♀ ]

  

Grimbald

an earthy spirit   [ ♂ ]

  

bass
[ John Bowman,  ♂ ]

  

Cupid

  [ ♂ ]

  

soprano
[ Charlotte Butler,  ♀ ]

  

Cold genius

  [ ♂ ]

  

bass
[ Richard Leveridge,  ♂ ]

  

Comus

  [ ♂ ]

  

bass
[ ?,  ♂ ]

  

Pan

  [ ♂ ]

  

bass
[ ?,  ♂ ]

  

Nereid

  [ ♀ ]

  

soprano
[ ?,  ♀ ]

  


Officers and Soldiers, Singers and Dancers, Airy spirits, Priests, Two syrens, Shepherds, Nymphs, Peasants, He (bass), She (soprano).


 


In Kent.
 

Act the first Act the second Act the third Act the fourth Act the fifth

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