Friday, May 18 at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 20 at 2:00pm
DePaul Concert Hall
E. Loren Meeker, director | Steven Mosteller, music director
It is spring in a small English village; time to choose a May Queen from the lovely local maidens. But much to the May Festival committee’s dismay, no young woman in town meets their exacting standards for chastity. The only virgin to be found is Albert Herring, a meek mama’s boy who reluctantly becomes the first May King. After his friends surreptitiously ply him with liquid courage at the coronation ceremony, Albert discovers the nerve to taste what the world has to offer. When his mother discovers him missing the next morning, everyone assumes the worst and begins to mourn, only to have Albert triumphantly return from his wild night on the town.
Albert Herring was the first opera written by Benjamin Britten for his newly formed company called the English Opera Group. Debuting at Glyndebourne in 1947, Herring combined Britten’s humor and gift for parody in an opera that is quintessentially British. A poignant and hilarious coming of age tale, Albert Herring is Britten at his comic finest.
This opera is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.
