The Tigers (opera)

The Tigers is a burlesque opera in a prologue and three acts by Havergal Brian. Written 1917–1919 and 1927–1929, it was lost, then recovered in 1977, and premiered in 1983 when it was recorded 3–8 January 1983 at BBC Maida Vale Studios. It was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 3 May 1983. The plot concerns a regiment nicknamed The Tigers.

Instrumentation

The Tigers is scored for a large orchestra,

Woodwind

• a Harmonica
• Three Flutes (one dubling piccolo)
• Three Oboes (one dubling English Horn)
• Three B♭ Clarinets (one dubling E♭ Clarinet, one dubling Bass Clarinet)
• Three Bassoons (one dubling Contrabassoon)

Brass

• six French Horns
• a Bugle in C
• Four B♭ Trumpets
• Four Trombones
• a Euphonium
• Five Tubas (only one is used in acts I and III)

keyboards

• Pipeorgan
• Celesta

percussion

timpani, cymbal, bass drum, snare drum, long drum, triangle, tambourine, tam-tam, thunder machine, whip, sleigh bells, town crier's bell, police bell, ship's siren, telephone bell, police whistle, motor horn, fire bells, tubular bells in Bb, C, D, Eb, xylophone, glockenspiel, 2 vibraphones and a tubaphone

Strings

• Two harps
• I Violin
• II Violin
• Viola
• Cellos
• Dubble basses

This is the first time the vibraphone is used in an orchestral score.

Premiere and recording

• Teresa Cahill (soprano); Alison Hargan (soprano); Marilyn Hill-Smith (soprano); Ameral Gunson (mezzo); Ann Marie Owens (contralto); Paul Crook (tenor); Harry Nicoll (tenor); John Winfield (tenor); Kenneth Woollam (tenor); Ian Caddy (baritone); Malcolm Donnelly (baritone); Henry Herford (baritone); Alan Opie (baritone); Alan Watt (baritone); Norman Welsby (baritone); Richard Angas (bass-baritone); Eric Shilling (bass–baritone); Dennis Wicks (bass) BBC Singers; BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted Lionel Friend