Yan Tan Tethera (opera)

{{Infobox opera

| name = Yan Tan Tethera
A Mechanical Pastoral

| image = Harrison Birtwistle (cropped).jpg

| image_upright = 0.9

| caption = The composer in 2008

| librettist = Tony Harrison

| language = English

| based_on = folk tale

| premiere_date = {{start date|1986|08|07|df=y}}

| premiere_location = Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

}}

Yan Tan Tethera is a chamber opera (subtitled A Mechanical Pastoral) by the English composer Harrison Birtwistle with a libretto by the poet Tony Harrison, based on a supernatural folk tale about two shepherds, their sheep, and the Devil. It was first performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on 7 August 1986. The title comes from a traditional way of counting sheep.

Roles

class="wikitable"

!Role

!Voice type

!Premiere Cast, 7 August 1986
(Conductor: Elgar Howarth)

Alan

Hannah

| Helen Charnock

Caleb Raven

|baritone

| Philip Doghan

Piper/Bad 'Un

Holden, Amanda (Ed.), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. {{ISBN|0-14-029312-4}}
[https://www.universaledition.com/sir-harrison-birtwistle-64/werke/yan-tan-tethera-5837 Universal Edition details]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvHAMRxg7gc&t=6057s YouTube: Yan Tan Tethera - Harrison Birtwistle]

Adlington, Robert (2000): The Music of Harrison Birtwistle, Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-52-102780-2}}
Beard, David (2012): Harrison Birtwistle's Operas and Music Theatre, Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-52-189534-0}}
Cross, Jonathan (2000): Harrison Birtwistle: Man, Mind Music, Faber. {{ISBN|0-57-119345-5}}
Hall, Michael (1984): Harrison Birtwistle, Robson. {{ISBN|1-86-105235-9}}