Dr Dee
Dr Dee: An English Operais anoperacreated by theatre directorRufus Norrisand musician and composerDamon Albarn.Its debut performance was at thePalace Theatre, Manchesterin July 2011, as part of the 2011Manchester International Festival.[1]The opera is based on the life ofJohn Dee,medical and scientific advisor toElizabeth I.[2]
Background
[edit]
Damon Albarn became associated with the Manchester International Festival through a 2006 concert production by his bandGorillaz,Demon Days Live,a 2007Chinese opera,Monkey: Journey to the West,and a 2009 immersive theatre production,It Felt Like a Kiss,for which he wrote music.[3][4]
An opera titledDoctor Deewas originally planned as a collaboration between Albarn, Gorillaz partnerJamie Hewlettand comic book authorAlan Moore.[5]According to Moore, he was approached by Albarn and Hewlett to collaborate on an opera featuring superheroes, but instead he suggested John Dee as a subject. He withdrew from the project when expected contributions from Albarn and Hewlett to his magazineDodgem Logicfailed to materialise.[6]Moore is credited for "inspiration" in the opera's official programme[7]and his incomplete libretto was published inStrange Attractormagazine.[8]
Production
[edit]Dr Deeran from 1 to 9 July 2011 at thePalace Theatre, Manchester.It was commissioned by theManchester International Festival,English National Operaand theLondon 2012 Festival.[9]It was subsequently performed from 26 June to 7 July 2012 at theLondon Coliseum,as part of the London 2012 Festival.[10]
The opera was scored for a band combining Elizabethan English instruments (viola da gamba,shawm,dulcian,crumhorn,recorder,lute) with the Africankoraand the distinctive drumming of Nigerian percussionistTony Allen.Damon Albarn played acoustic guitar andharmoniumand sang on a number of songs. A twenty-piece conventional orchestra was provided by theBBC Philharmonicand conducted by André de Ridder.[9]
John Dee, a non-singing part, was played byBertie Carvel.Dee's wife, Katherine, was played by Anna Dennis.Francis Walsinghamwas played by Steven Page.Edward Kelleywas played by Christopher Robson, whose singing was described as "sublime" by Albarn.[9][11]
Reception
[edit]The Guardiangave the Manchester production four stars, saying that it "reaches to the heart of the tragedy of an overreaching intellect destroyed by a deal with a second-rateMephistopheles".[12]The Independentalso awarded four stars, saying that the production was "mostly a triumph, but the openingdumb showand final song don't work ".[13]Rupert ChristianseninThe Daily Telegraphgave the same star-rating, describing the opera as "fresh, original and heartfelt".[14]TheNMEdescribed it as "visually sumptuous and musically haunting".[15]
Soundtrack
[edit]| Dr Dee | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Soundtrack albumby | ||||
| Released | 7 May 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:05 | |||
| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Producer | Damon Albarn | |||
| Damon Albarnchronology | ||||
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| Damon Albarnsolo chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [16] |
| Classic Rock |   [17] |
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Damon Albarn
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Golden Dawn" | 3:56 |
| 2. | "Apple Carts" | 2:37 |
| 3. | "O Spirit, Animate Us" | 3:48 |
| 4. | "The Moon Exalted" | 5:43 |
| 5. | "A Man of England" | 3:17 |
| 6. | "Saturn" | 2:05 |
| 7. | "Coronation" | 1:10 |
| 8. | "The Marvelous Dream" | 2:23 |
| 9. | "A Prayer" | 1:33 |
| 10. | "Edward Kelley" | 3:29 |
| 11. | "Preparation" | 3:01 |
| 12. | "9 Point Star" | 1:33 |
| 13. | "Temptation Comes in the Afternoon" | 2:05 |
| 14. | "Watching the Fire that Waltzed Away" | 2:37 |
| 15. | "Moon (Interlude)" | 0:29 |
| 16. | "Cathedrals" | 3:01 |
| 17. | "Tree of Beauty" | 2:00 |
| 18. | "The Dancing King" | 3:24 |
| Total length: | 48:05 | |
Personnel
[edit]- Damon Albarn – vocals, harmony vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, producer, artwork
- Production
- Stephen Sedgwick – engineer, recording
- Stephen Rinker – engineer
- Andre De Ridder – conductor
- Valgeir Sigurdsson – mi xing
- Alexander Overington – assistant mi xing
- Einar Stefannsson – assistant mi xing
- Paul Evans – assistant mi xing
- Tim Young – mastering
- Additional musicians
- Tony Allen– drums
- Simon Tong– guitar
- Mike Smith– organ
- Arngeir Hauksson –theorbo
- Madou Diabate –kora
- Liam Byrne –viol
- Anne Allen – wind
- Bill Lyons – wind
- David Hatcher – wind
- Anna Dennis – vocals
- Bertie Carvel – vocals
- Christopher Robson – vocals
- Melanie Pappenheim – vocals
- Stephen Page – vocals
- Victoria Couper – vocals
- BBC Philharmonic
- Palace Voices – vocals
- Other personnel
- Stephen Higgins – music supervisor
- Paul Arditti– recording consultant
References
[edit]- ^"Doctor Dee".Manchester International Festival.Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2011.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^"Damon Albarn to star in new stage show".BBC News.17 March 2011.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^Morley, Paul(6 November 2005)."Gorillaz at the Manchester International Festival".The Daily Telegraph.London.Retrieved16 February2011.
- ^It Felt Like a Kiss (theatre programme).Manchester, UK:Manchester International Festival.2009.
- ^"Gorillaz ditch opera project withWatchman's Alan Moore ".New Musical Express.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^Michaels, Sean (15 June 2010)."Gorillaz and Alan Moore fall out over opera".The Guardian.London.Retrieved15 June2010.
- ^"Dr Dee:Damon Albarn's Magickal Mystery Tour Fails To Become Gold ".The Quietus.Retrieved5 July2011.
- ^"John Dee Opera Goes Ahead".Strange Attractor. 17 March 2011.Retrieved16 October2011.
- ^abcDr Dee Official Programme.Manchester, UK:Manchester International Festival.2011.
- ^"Damon Albarn's 'Doctor Dee' to open in London in June 2012".NME.
- ^Christiansen, Rupert(29 June 2011)."Damon Albarn interview forDr Deeopera – Manchester International Festival ".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved16 October2011.
- ^Hickling, Alfred (2 July 2011)."Dr Dee".The Guardian.Retrieved16 October2011.
- ^Vallely, Paul(5 July 2011)."Dr Dee".The Independent.Retrieved16 October2011.
- ^Christiansen, Rupert(4 July 2011)."Dr Dee".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved16 October2011.
- ^Nicolson, Barry (12 July 2011)."Damon Albarn And Rufus Norris –Dr Dee".New Musical Express.Retrieved16 October2011.
- ^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas."Damon Albarn - Dr. Dee review".AllMusic.All Media Network.Retrieved2017-07-24.
- ^Dalton, Stephen (July 2012). "Damon Albarn - Dr. Dee".Classic Rock.No. 172. p. 97.