Smyth: The Prison

Summary introduction
The Prison is a symphony for soprano (the
Soul) and bass-baritone (the Prisoner), chorus,
and orchestra, composed by Ethel Smyth in
1929–30. Smyth compiled the libretto from
The Prison: A Dialogue by Henry Bennet (‘HB’)
Brewster (1850– 1908), published in 1891, and
reprinted in 1930 with a memoir of HB by Smyth.
She herself conducted the world premiere,
at Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on 19 February 1931,
and five days later Adrian Boult led the London
premiere, at Queen’s Hall.