Voice of Ariadne, The

Opera by Thea Musgrave (libretto by A Elguera, after Henry James's The Last of the Valerii). Composed 1972-73, it was first performed at Aldeburgh on 11 June 1974. In the story, Count Valerio becomes obsessed with an excavated statue of Ariadne, neglecting his wife, until the Countess merges her voice with that of the goddess.