Hopkins the Factory Worker (Maschinist Hopkins)
Opera in a prologue and three acts
Words and music by Max Brand Sung in the English version by ELIZABETH FORBES (first UK broadcast)
This opera from 1929, in which faceless machines sing and a Black Bottom nestles amongst stark chromaticism, uses a contemporary setting to question the means by which workers achieve their rights.
Other workers and machines: BBC SINGERS trained by RONALD CORP Black Bottom routine:
LONDON VOICES director TERRY EDWARDS
BRAND NEW BAND director JOHN HARLE (saxophone) PERRY MONTAGUE-MASON (violin) BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA leader ROY GILLARD conducted by SIMON JOLY Répétiteur JAMES HOLMES Technical presentation JOHN RUSHBY-SMITH and PETER SIDHOM
Producer CLIVE BENNETT