53, is an opera in three acts by Benjamin Britten to an English libretto by William Plomer, based on Lytton Strachey's 1928 Elizabeth and Essex: A Tragic History.

[1] The first performance was presented at the Royal Opera House, London, in 1953 during the celebrations of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Several in the audience of its gala opening were disappointed by the opera, which presents the first Elizabeth as a sympathetic, but flawed, character motivated largely by vanity and desire.

The premiere was one of Britten's few critical failures, and the opera was not included in the series of complete Decca recordings conducted by the composer.

However, a symphonic suite extracted from the opera by the composer (Opus 53a), which includes the Courtly Dances, is often performed as a concert piece.

[3] The second staging of Gloriana was undertaken by Sadler's Wells Opera in 1966 with Sylvia Fisher in the title role, directed by Colin Graham.

[4] In 1973, at The Proms in London, a concert version under conductor Charles Mackerras was performed and recorded, based on Sadlers' Wells Opera's revival of the Colin Graham production, with Ava June and David Hillman as Elizabeth and Essex.

The performance starred Susan Bullock, Toby Spence, Patricia Bardon and Mark Stone.

Scene 2: The Queen's apartment, Nonsuch Palace Elizabeth and Cecil discuss the rivalry between Mountjoy and Essex.

Cecil warns Elizabeth about the threat of another Armada from Spain and cautions her that it would be dangerous to show too much affection to the impulsive Essex.

He, Mountjoy and Lady Rich imagine gaining power as the Queen gets older, but Frances urges caution.

Scene 1: Nonsuch Palace The Queen's maids gossip about Essex's failure to control the Irish rebellion.

She receives him kindly and is initially sympathetic to his troubles, but grows impatient as he complains about his enemies at court.