| The Burning Fiery Furnace | |
| Composer: | Benjamin Britten |
| Description: | A Parable for Church Performance |
| Librettist: | William Plomer |
| Premiere Location: | Church of St Bartholomew, Orford, Suffolk |
The Burning Fiery Furnace is an English music drama with music composed by Benjamin Britten, his Opus 77, to a libretto by William Plomer. One of Britten's three Parables for Church Performances, this work received its premiere at the St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Suffolk, England, on 9 June 1966 by the English Opera Group.[1]
Colin Graham was the stage director of this first production.[2] Set designs were by Annena Stubbs. The United States premiere was presented at the Caramoor Summer Music Festival on 25 June 1967 with Andrea Velis as Nebuchadnezzar.[3]
The scale and manner of instrumentation are similar to those in Curlew River, but one notable difference is the use of the alto trombone.[4]
Clifford Hindley has commented on a reading of a subtext sympathetic to homosexuality on the part of both Britten and Plomer in their treatment of the story.[5]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 9 June 1966 (Conductor: Benjamin Britten) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebuchadnezzar | tenor | Peter Pears | |
| Astrologer | baritone | Bryan Drake[6] | |
| Ananias (Shadrack) | baritone | John Shirley-Quirk | |
| Misael (Meshach) | tenor | ||
| Azarias (Abednego) | baritone | Victor Godfrey | |
| Herald and Leader of the Courtiers | baritone | Peter Leeming | |
| Chorus of Courtiers; attendants | |||
The Burning Fiery Furnace tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar (the historical Nebuchadnezzar II) and the three Israelites, Ananias, Misael and Asarias (corresponding Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), who were thrown into a furnace for their refusal to worship Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold. However, God saves them from death, as the voice of an angel joins the Israelites in a 'Benedicite'.
Britten himself, along with Viola Tunnard, supervised the first commercial recording of this work, for Decca/London,[7] with the following participants:
The instrumentalists were Richard Adeney (flute), Neill Sanders (horn), Roger Brenner (trombone), Cecil Aronowitz (viola), Keith Marjoram (double bass), Osian Ellis (harp), James Blades (percussion) and Philip Ledger (organ).
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