full score LOST

Iris (soprano)
Charmion (mezzo)
Cleopatra (alto)
Antony (tenor)
large SATB chorus, semichorus SSATB
piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns [6 ad lib], 3 trumpets [4 ad lib], 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, side drum, triangle, castanets, indian drum*, gong, large cymbals, small cymbals, glockenspiel, harp, strings
* probably a long drum (tamburo grande)

Text by Gerald Cumberland (CF Kenyon)

Orchestral prelude:  Slave dance  Allegro con fuoco,  C sharp minor 
Sequence of solos for Iris and Charmian, with semichorus  Lento,  E major/C major
Duet:  When battle's done, for Antony and Cleopatra  In regal martial style,   E major
Solo:  Far back in the womb of time, for Cleopatra  Lento,  no fixed tonality
Chorus and semichorus:  Great silence is o'er everything  Allegro animato,   F sharp major/E major
Solo:  Now all is finished  Lento,  free tonality, marked E major
Finale for chorus and semichorus:  The sun has gone away to sleep  Marche funebre,  C sharp minor

(c40´)

(as of 1987) Bosworth and Co

Article

Contemporary review of premiere

Further reading

Cleopatra's librettist - Reginald Nettel in HB: Aspects of Havergal Brian - see bibliography

Performances

14 October 1909 [first and only performance] . Southport, UK (Southport Festival)
Maud Phillips (sop - Iris), Lillie Whiteside (mezzo - Charmian), Phillis Lett (alto - Cleopatra), John Coates (ten - Antony), Festival Chorus, Hallé Orchestra, conductor Sir Landon Ronald
Contemporary review

Prelude, arr piano
8 May 1982 . London College of Music
Peter Jacobs

990715 Havergal Brian - the official website HOME