September 29, 2014
Harrison Birtwistle: Gawain
Steven Bergman READ TIME: 2 MIN.
NMC Recordings has released the 1994 recording of Sir Harrison Birtwistle's opera, "Gawain." Written in 1991 for London's Royal Opera House, the powerful piece depicts Morgan le Fay's continued pursuit to unravel the unity of King Arthur's court. This chapter in the epic tale brings the terrifying Green Knight to Camelot, looking to challenge the knights to behead him in exchange for their own heads in one year and a day. Gawain steps forward to accept the challenge. After successfully chopping off the Green Knight's head, the opera shows his one-year journey towards his honorable demise. However, due to his encounter with the hunter, Bertilak de Hautdesert and his wife, Gawain survives his predicted end and gains the independence to break off from Arthur's court, essentially accomplishing le Fay's goal.
Birtwistle's score is unforgiving and dense, forever undulating beneath the libretto like a plate tectonic, spewing forth a lava of accents when he necessitates the prominence of the brass or percussion to accentuate the dramatic moment. This version also includes a streamline revision of the "Turning of the Seasons" sequence, an intermezzo within the opera that bridges the two acts. This shortened section allows us to follow Gawain quicker, and as it doesn't accomplish much expect to show the passage of time, its reduced length is welcomed.
The actors powerfully navigate the composer's interpretation of David Harsent's libretto. John Tomlinson brings an ominous quality to his deep bass baritone to play the Green Knight, while baritone Francois Le Roux bravely sings the title character. Soprano Marie Angel and mezzo Anne Howells attack the roles of Morgan le Fay and Lady de Hautdesert, respectively, as the frantic desperation of their quest comes through nicely on this recording.
It is a welcome development that NMC and BBC Radio have been provided with the funding to archive this complex, dramatic opera by such a noted composer.
"Gawain"
Harrison Birtwistle
CD and digital formats
NMC Recordings / BBC Radio
