Dr Dee facts for kids
Dr Dee: An English Opera is a special kind of musical play called an opera. It was created by theatre director Rufus Norris and musician Damon Albarn. The show first opened in July 2011 in Palace Theatre, Manchester. This was part of the 2011 Manchester International Festival. The opera tells the story of John Dee, who was a doctor and science advisor to Queen Elizabeth I.
Contents
About the Opera
How it Started
Damon Albarn had worked with the Manchester International Festival before. He had a concert with his band Gorillaz in 2006. He also worked on a Chinese opera in 2007. In 2009, he wrote music for a theatre show.
At first, an opera about Doctor Dee was planned differently. Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett (from Gorillaz), and comic book writer Alan Moore were going to work together. Alan Moore said they asked him to create an opera about superheroes. But he suggested John Dee instead. Alan Moore later left the project. This was because some work he expected from Albarn and Hewlett for his magazine did not happen. Still, Alan Moore is thanked in the opera's program for his ideas. His unfinished script was also published in a magazine.
Making the Show
Dr Dee was performed from July 1 to July 9, 2011. These shows were at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. The show was asked for by the Manchester International Festival. It was also supported by the English National Opera. And it was part of the London 2012 Festival. The opera was performed again in London in 2012. This was from June 26 to July 7 at the London Coliseum.
The music for Dr Dee was played by a unique band. It mixed old English instruments with African ones. These included the viola da gamba, shawm, and lute. It also featured the African kora. Nigerian drummer Tony Allen played drums. Damon Albarn played acoustic guitar and a harmonium. He also sang many of the songs. A twenty-person orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, played too. André de Ridder was the conductor.
The main character, John Dee, did not sing in the opera. He was played by Bertie Carvel. John Dee's wife, Katherine, was played by Anna Dennis. Francis Walsingham was played by Steven Page. Edward Kelley was played by Christopher Robson. Damon Albarn said Christopher Robson's singing was "sublime," meaning amazing.
The Music Album
Quick facts for kids Dr Dee |
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| Released | 7 May 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 at Studio 13, London and MediaCityUK, Salford | |||
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| Length | 48:05 | |||
| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Producer | Damon Albarn | |||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
Songs on the Album
All songs written and composed 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 |
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Total length:
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48:05 | |
Who Made the Music
- Damon Albarn – singing, guitar, producer
- Production Team
- Stephen Sedgwick – engineer (recorded the music)
- Stephen Rinker – engineer
- Andre De Ridder – conductor (led the orchestra)
- Valgeir Sigurdsson – mixing (balanced the sounds)
- Tim Young – mastering (final sound polish)
- Other Musicians
- Tony Allen – drums
- Simon Tong – guitar
- Mike Smith – organ
- Arngeir Hauksson – theorbo (a type of lute)
- Madou Diabate – kora (African harp)
- Liam Byrne – viol (old string instrument)
- Anne Allen – wind instruments
- Bill Lyons – wind instruments
- David Hatcher – wind instruments
- Anna Dennis – singing
- Bertie Carvel – singing
- Christopher Robson – singing
- Melanie Pappenheim – singing
- Stephen Page – singing
- Victoria Couper – singing
- BBC Philharmonic – orchestra
- Palace Voices – choir singing
- Other Helpers
- Stephen Higgins – music supervisor (oversaw the music)
- Paul Arditti – recording consultant
