Of Revivals and Delayed Premieres: Performing Thomas Dunhill’s Forgotten Opera, Something in the City

Conceived in response to the discovery of a hitherto unperformed comic opera
by Thomas. F. Dunhill and the consideration of performing practice issues surrounding
a potential staging of this work, this thesis examines aspects of historically-informed
performance relevant to the genres of British Light Opera. An investigation of vocal
technique and style, including voice production, phrasing, breathing, pronunciation and
rubato, as heard in recordings of singers known to have performed in comic operas by
Dunhill and his contemporaries, will seek to establish a paradigm for vocal performance
in this genre. Dunhill’s unperformed opera, lacking an established performance
tradition in the manner of the Savoy Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, provides a valuable
opportunity for the adoption of fresh perspectives in performance.

Much valuable research has been undertaken in recent years into nineteenth-
century historical vocal performance. The present study, whilst informed by such
research, will highlight similarities and differences between performance techniques in
opera and the collaboration of genres which make British Light Opera. This will be
done through the use of detailed analysis, drawing on audio and audio visual evidence,
such as that available through Pathé films of performers such as Trefor Jones (tenor
lead in Dunhill’s Tantivy Towers under the composer’s supervision) to
comprehensively address issues of physicality in performance.

This thesis is accompanied by audio and video recordings of a concert version
of the comic opera Something in the City, performed in St. Paul’s Hall, University of
Huddersfield on 27th January 2019. These recordings provide examples of a
performance of the opera using historically appropriate approaches to style and
technique. Additional recorded material demonstrating experimentation with related
vocal music is also included as a precursor to the opera.