The story centres on the English princess Caroline Mathilde (1751-1775) sister of George III who at the age of 15 was sent to Denmark to marry the 17-year-old eccentric and schizophrenic Danish King Christian VII. The balletportrays her unhappy marriage the King's growing madness and her fatal love-affair with Struensee the King's influential physician which leads to their arrest his execution and her exile at the age of 20 separated from hertwo young children.This suite begins with the act's opening number: a boisterous stamping dance to which the people rudely mock Queen Caroline Mathilde and her lover Struensee. After this comes a dark Adagio The Conspiracy in which the theme passes like persuasion from mouth to mouth its variations suggesting the different attitudes of the conspirators firmly controlled by the brass-driven gestures of the Queen Dowager. The conspiracy then worksitself out at a court masked ball from which the suite includes two dances: a gavotte and a slow lubricious passacaglia that is a pas de deux for Caroline Mathilde and Struensee. The Arrest comes with a gathering rush of musicthat envelops the King the Queen and Struensee leading to a vociferous climax in which they are held apart. In The Execution slow white music for wordless female voices harp and low strings is interrupted by pathetic alienated outbursts from the King. The suite ends as does the ballet with a quiet adagio lament for clarinets and alto flute as the Queen goes into exile.Score. Duration c. 33mins.
Peter Maxwell Davies: Caroline Mathilde Act 2 (Concert Suite): High Voice: Score
