Comus is a masque in three acts adapted from John Milton's masque of the same name by John Dalton in 1738. The music there was set by Thomas Arne and helped establish the composer's reputation.
| Comus | |
|---|---|
| Masque by Thomas Arne | |
 1778 portrait of the composer | |
| Librettist | John Dalton |
| Based on | Milton's Comus |
| Premiere | 4 March 1739 Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London |
An 18th century relaunch
editThe poet John Dalton adapted Milton's masque of 1634 so as to fit 18th century theatrical conventions and published it in 1738 as Comus, a Mask (Now adapted to the Stage). In particular he considerably extended its musical content by the addition of lyrics from elsewhere in Milton's work, and also some of Dalton's own composition, as well as adding the character Euphrosyne.[1][2] The work was first performed at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 4 March 1738 and after its successful run was performed elsewhere and revived several times.[3]
The music for Comus was Thomas Arne's first major success. The original score is now lost, but a copy made around 1785 does exist.[3][4] Several members of the company were then at the height of their careers and included relations of Arne. Mrs Arne played Sabrina; the Lady was played by his daughter Susannah Maria Cibber, while his son-in-law starred as one of her brothers.
Roles
edit| Role[5] | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 4 March 1738 (Conductor: - Thomas Arne) |
|---|---|---|
| A Lady | non-singing role | Susannah Maria Cibber |
| Comus, a Magician | non-singing role | James Quin |
| Euphrosyne, a Grace | soprano | Catherine "Kitty" Clive |
| Sabrina, a Nymph | soprano | Cecilia Arne (born Cecilia Young) |
| First brother of the lady | non-singing role | William Milward |
| Second brother of the lady | non-singing role | Theophilus Cibber |
| Assorted spirits, revelers in Comus's pleasure crew, etc. | various voice types | John Beard, Cecilia Arne, Kitty Clive |
Synopsis
editA lady is lost in the forest where the magician Comus dwells; masquerading as a shepherd he entices her to his palace. A spirit warns the lady's two brothers that their sister is in Comus's control but they are waylayed by Comus's stooges. The spirit supplies the brothers with an enchanted potion to help them thwart Comus's spell over the lady. A banquet is organized in Comus's palace and the lady, succumbing to the power of the spell, is diverted by the songs and dances of the festivities. Comus forcefully encourages her to drink from his cup but the brothers dash in just in time, putting Comus to flight. The nymph Sabrina frees the lady from the magician's spell and all rejoice at the triumph of virtue in the masque's final chorus.[3]
Sources
edit- ^ Miss Ludlow, A General View of the Fine Arts, Critical and Historical], London 1851, p. 455
- ^ Comus, a Mask (Now adapted to the Stage)
- ^ a b c John A. Parkinson: "Comus (ii)", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed February 16, 2009), (subscription access) Archived 16 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ A complete performance on You Tube
- ^ Julian Herbage, preface to Comus (London: Stainer and Bell, 1951)