Threnody from Albert Herring

Albert Herring is missing, presumed dead. Having been crowned May King of Loxford – in the absence of any suitable candidate for May Queen – and having had his lemonade laced with rum at the coronation celebrations, he has secretly gone off on a spree with his £25 prize money. The morning after his disappearance, when a search of the neighbourhood has found no trace of him except a May King’s crown of orange blossom, crushed by a cart on the road, Albert’s mother and the local worthies fear the worst.

The following Threnody, though satirical, is one of the most elaborate of all vocal ensembles in Britten’s operas and, though short, one of the most ambitious. Nine voices are involved, first of all as a chorus in a parodied Anglican chant and then, while the chant continues, as soloists each in turn giving expression to his or her feelings on Albert’s presumed demise – Gedge the Vicar, Nancy the baker’s daughter, Upfold the Mayor, the bountiful Lady Billows, Budd the Policeman, Florence Pike housekeeper to Lady Billows, Miss Wordsworth head teacher at the church school, Sid the butcher’s boy, and last of all Albert’s Mum. An ominous drum accompaniment replaces the chant and the nine voices repeat their solo contributions, this time all at once.

The next thing that happens in the opera is that Albert, unaware of all the fuss, makes a cheerful return.