The Immortal Hour, Finborough Theatre

This enchanting musical fairytale was premiered at the inaugural Glastonbury Festival in 1914, before transferring to London, where it broke the record for most consecutive performances of an opera— over 600. 

During the runaway success of its first run in the 1920s, a historian describes how audiences returned again and again, “spellbound by the music, the story... in all operatic history there has never been a triumph so complete or extraordinary.” Now The Immortal Hour returns to the stage for the first time in 50 years.

The Story...

Based on a libretti by William Sharp (written under the pseudonym Fiona Macleod), the opera is a Celtic-Irish take on the Greek myth, Orpheus and Eurydice. The sinister Lord of Shadows engineers a marriage between, the human High King of Eire, and a mystical creature called Etain— a name which means passion and jealousy. After a year of wedded happiness, they celebrate their anniversary but Etain is suffering from frightening dreams. The faeries and immortal creatures are calling for her to return... 

Composer Rutland Boughton (who was also one of Glastonbury's co-founders) perfectly balances the strange poetic language with an enchanting score. The grandness of the music, reminiscent of Vaughan Williams and Wagner, merges with the ethereal performance from an orchestra featuring the Celtic harp, cymbalum, penny whistle and trumpet, conjuring up the dream-like world of Etain.

The Production...

Though casting has not yet been announced, Benji Sperring has signed on to direct. Sperring has already shown his musical salt with the Finborugh's charming Valley of the Song this year, and has directed at a plethora of excellent fringe theatre venues. As director, designer, producer and writer, he is definitely a driving force in fringe theatre.