The Little Sweep is the second part of a stage production entitled Let's Make an Opera!. The first part takes the form of a play in which the cast portray contemporary amateur performers conceiving, creating and rehearsing the opera. Intended as an introduction to and demystification of the operatic genre, the play also provides an opportunity to rehearse the audience in the four "Audience Songs" they will sing after the interval.
| Librettist | Eric Crozier |
| Date of composition | 1949 (April - May 1949) |
| Premiered | 1949, June 14th (Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh Festival) in Aldeburgh, United Kingdom |
| Dedicated to | 'Affectionately dedicated to the real Gay, Juliet, Sophie, Tina, Hughie, Jonny and Sammy - the Gathorne-Hardys of Great Glemham, Suffolk' |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | BTC 1026 |
| Approx. duration | 45 minutes |
| Spoken language | English |
| Instruments |
Voice (Bass)
- Black Bob, a brutal sweep-master
Voice (Contralto) - Miss Baggott, housekeeper at Iken Hall Voice (Soprano) - Rowan, nursery-maid to the Woodbridge cousins Voice (Soprano) - Juliet Brook, aged 14 one of the children at Iken Hall Voice (Tenor) - Clem, Black Bob's son and assistant Voice (Treble) - Johnny Crome, aged 15 one of the Woodbridge cousins Voice (Treble) - Tina Crome, aged 8 one of the Woodbridge cousins Voice (Treble) - Gay Brook, aged 13 one of the children at Iken Hall Voice (Treble) - Sophie Brook, aged 10 one of the children at Iken Hall Voice (Treble) - Sam ("Sammy") Sparrow, aged 8 Black Bob's new sweep boy Voice (Treble) - Hugh ("Hughie") Crome, aged 8 Tina's twin Voice (Bass) - Tom, coachman from Woodbridge Voice (Tenor) - Alfred, gardener at Iken Hall |
| Autotranslations beta |
Benjamin Britten: Let's Make an Opera (The Little Sweep), BTC 1026 Benjamin Britten: Let's Make an Opera (The Little Sweep), BTC 1026 Benjamin Britten: Let's Make an Opera (The Little Sweep), BTC 1026 |