Thanks, Andy, for your swift and very thoughtful gesture on the passing of "my" Queen, Elizabeth II. As a Brit of 71 years old, who only remembers one monarch on the throne in my lifetime, I was saddened by the announcement yesterday, 8 September 2022.I am full of admiration that you responded so swiftly with a free download of this excellent, historical performance in tribute. I bought this recording from you some time ago, but now many other opera-lovers who may not have discovered this recording can enjoy it, discovering exactly how good the opera is!Thank you so much!

A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE! SIMPLY A MUST!

I have the Mackerras performance which I like very much. But the prremiere premiere performance has a sense of occasion about it -a certain tension- that makes an emotional impacty for me. The sound is a bit distnt but very clear. The r I eason I wanted this performance is that I heard it on a short wave radio days after the first performance and I participated in the US premiere in Cincinnati-I think with Inge Borkh and Eugene Connely, the conductor was Joseph Krips Hearing the 1st performance brought back a lot of memories

My expectations for this 65 year-old recording were low. This premiere performance has acquired a reputation as a disaster, as the highest of high society, in the presence of the Queen in her Coronation Week, supposedly sat on their hands in response to modern music and the sight of an ageing Queen being portrayed on the stage.Well, so much foe received opinion. The recording, which seems to be of a BBC broadcast is fantastic for its age. Not only does it capture an historic performance in clear, plain sound, but it also captures what seems to be an enthusiastic reception from the audience. Applause at the ends of Acts is immediate and keen.I have seen three productions of Gloriana and have the Mackerras stereo set with Josephine Barstow. I think it would be impertinent to attempt critiques of Joan Cross, Peter Pears and the creators of this opera. What we have here is a fantastic piece of musical history which I am very moved to own.Bravo Opera Depot!

For the world premiere of Benjamin Britten's Gloriana, celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Covent Garden pulled out all the stops. Nearly every role is cast from strength, including cameos from Inia te Wiata (Ballad Singer), Adele Leigh (Lady in Waiting) and Edith Coates as a fishwife. Among the principals, Peter Pears sings with unaccustomed slancio as Essex, while Geraint Evans (Lord Mountjoy) and Jennifer Vyvyan (Lady Rich) are standouts. Down in the pit, John Pritchard has not fully corralled the new score, as untidy orchestral and choral work betray him. Finally, as Elizabeth I, Joan Cross is solid (often afflicted with crabbed tone, though) without challenging the supremacy of more recent interpreters like Sylvia Fisher (also represented on Opera Depot), Sarah Walker and Christine Brewer. What makes this release indispensable apart from Pears and the remarkable supporting cast is that it represents Britten's unrevised thoughts on the score. The notable change comes at the end, where the controversial melodrama is considerably more extended, including the introduction of two cameo appearances that Britten subsequently penciled out. If you're a Britten obsessive, you'll want this Gloriana for this reason alone.

They recordings were fine. I always prefer as much audiece reactio as possible. I do need to ask you about Ring from Soutj America 1962 and 1967. If pitches have been corrected. My copies are copletely off pitch and need to be replaced.

Cross was better than I thought.Pears does not have the lyric quality really required for this, he was in essence a character tenor.A world Premiere performance is something special but I am sure the performances grew during the run.All told you have to have this performance. Sylvia Fisher was a better fit for Elizabeth and the Sadler's Wells recording shows a deeper understanding.Ava June probably was the greatest of them all in the title role, also at the Wells.

bit worried about Cross,being used to stronger voices as Gloriana,but she comes up trumps

Outstanding recording of an outstanding performance of an outstanding opera.