King Arthur
John Dryden
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
King Arthur, or The British Worthy, is a play or Semi-Opera with a libretto by John Dryden and music by Henry Purcell. It was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in London in 1691.
In this unusual version of the Arthurian legend Arthur is King of Britain fighting to repel the invading Saxons led by Oswald, King of Kent, and in love with the blind Princess Emmeline, daughter of the Duke of Cornwall. The play has many supernatural elements, Enchanters, Magicians, Spirits, Apparitions and Transformations. The play ends with a Masque for which Purcell wrote some of his finest music including the song "Fairest Isle" in praise of Britain.
(Summary by Alan Mapstone)
Cast List:
King Arthur: Algy Pug
Oswald: iamshawn
Osmond: Beeswaxcandle
Conan: Greg Giordano
Merlin: Larry Wilson
Aurelius: Priamedes
Albanact: HelloCentral
Guillimar: Wayne Cooke
Emmeline: Christine Rottger
Matilda: oogiesragdoll
Philadel: ToddHW
Grimbald: Agnes Robert Behr
Cupid: Inkell
Genius: Alan Mapstone
Syrens: dc
Aeolus: ToddHW
Pan: Elijah Fisher
Nereid: Rapuzelina
He: David Purdy
She: Michelle Purdy
Comus: Alan Mapstone
Venus: Alan Mapstone
Prologue: Alan Mapstone
Epilogue: Agnes Robert Behr
Narration: Alan Mapstone
Audio Editor: Alan Mapstone (1 hr 48 min)