Scenes from Dorothy Howell’s Newly Discovered ‘Perdita’ Set for World Premiere
By David SalazarThe National Opera Studio in London will present the world premiere of scenes of “Perdita” on Dec. 3 and 4, 2024.
“Perdita” is an unpublished opera by Dorothy Howell and her only known operatic work. The 20th-century composer left a manuscript, dated July 1917, which was discovered in Howell’s former house in Worchestershire by writer and historian Dr. Leah Broad. The opera is based on Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale.”
“This amazing little work gives us a fascinating insight into what this ferociously talented young composer might have been as opera composer,” said Dr. Broad in an official press release. “It shows her emerging style in the lead up to her most famous work, Lamia, and reveals how much we still have to discover about British music of the period. Many more British composers were attempting opera in the first decades of the twentieth century than we probably realize.”
The scenes of the opera last 10 minutes and will be performed by Young Artists of the National Opera Studio.
“We are enormously proud to present the world premiere performance of this fascinating operatic excerpt from Dorothy Howell’s ‘Perdita,'” said Eric Melear, Artistic Director of the National Opera Studio. “Her music lyrically evokes Shakespeare’s characters and is a rare demonstration of how this talented composer brought text to life through her own distinct and vivid voice. We are indebted to Dr Broad for her discovery of this hidden gem of early 20th-century British music and are honoured that our Young Artists can play a historical part in celebrating the legacy of women composers whose contributions to opera deserve to be celebrated and explored.”
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