The Tigers (opera)
{{Short description|Opera by Havergal Brian}}
{{italic}}The Tigers is a burlesque opera in a prologue and three acts by Havergal Brian. Written 1917–1919 and 1927–1929, it was lost, then recovered in 1977, and premiered in 1983 when it was recorded 3–8 January 1983 at BBC Maida Vale Studios. It was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 3 May 1983.The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/14/havergal-brian-the-tigers-review-bbcso-lionel-friend Review][http://www.havergalbrian.org/thetigers_2.htm havergalbrian.org] The plot concerns a regiment nicknamed The Tigers.
Instrumentation
The Tigers is scored for a large orchestra,
= Woodwind =
- a Harmonica
- Three Flutes (one dubling piccolo)
- Three Oboes (one dubling English Horn)
- Three B♭ Clarinets (one dubling E♭ Clarinet, one dubling Bass Clarinet)
- Three Bassoons (one dubling Contrabassoon)
= Brass =
- six French Horns
- a Bugle in C
- Four B♭ Trumpets
- Four Trombones
- a Euphonium
- Five Tubas (only one is used in acts I and III)
= keyboards =
- Pipeorgan
- Celesta
= percussion =
timpani, cymbal, bass drum, snare drum, long drum, triangle, tambourine, tam-tam, thunder machine, whip, sleigh bells, town crier's bell, police bell, ship's siren, telephone bell, police whistle, motor horn, fire bells, tubular bells in Bb, C, D, Eb, xylophone, glockenspiel, 2 vibraphones and a tubaphone
= Strings =
- Two harps
- I Violin
- II Violin
- Viola
- Cellos
- Dubble basses
This is the first time the vibraphone is used in an orchestral score.{{cite web |last1=Newton |first1=Rodney Stephen |title=Havergal Brian and the percussion section |url=http://www.havergalbrian.org/articles/percussion.php |website=Havergal Brian Society |access-date=15 February 2024}}
Premiere and recording
- Teresa Cahill (soprano); Alison Hargan (soprano); Marilyn Hill Smith (soprano); Ameral Gunson (mezzo); Anne-Marie Owens (contralto); Paul Crook (tenor); Harry Nicoll (tenor); John Winfield (tenor); Kenneth Woollam (tenor); Ian Caddy (baritone); Malcolm Donnelly (baritone); Henry Herford (baritone); Alan Opie (baritone); Alan Watt (baritone); Norman Welsby (baritone); Richard Angas (bass-baritone); Eric Shilling (bass–baritone); Dennis Wicks (bass) BBC Singers; BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted Lionel Friend