Ralph the Rat on the Radio

Last night we did a preview of Opera Memphis' 0809 season on WKNO-FM which also featured excerpts from our current school tour show. We invited several schools to participate. The piece is called MYSTERY ON THE DOCKS and it is by Edward Barnes.

Midsummer Night's Dream, opera a capella

I am working on a new opera project, a setting of MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. The twist is, that the whole opera is going to be a capella. Well, maybe a harp or electronic keyboard to help keep people in tune once in awhile.

Yes, there is a quotation at the end.

This is a setting of the last couple of speeches:



OBERON

Through the house give glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire:
Every elf and fairy sprite
Hop as light as bird from brier;
And this ditty, after me,
Sing, and dance it trippingly.

TITANIA
First, rehearse your song by rote
To each word a warbling note:
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place.

Song and dance

OBERON
Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessed be;
And the issue there create

Ever shall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be;
Every fairy take his gait;
And each several chamber bless,
Through this palace, with sweet peace;
And the owner of it blest
Ever shall in safety rest.
Trip away; make no stay;
Meet me all by break of day.

Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and train

PUCK

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

My friends at Opera New Jersey are going to workshop some of this in mid July. In the meantime, here's an electronic demo, done with an amazing instrument, called a VP-550 by Roland.

Article on Songwriting Program

Memphis' Tristate Defender has an article on a song created by Kipp Diamond Academy in collaboration with our songwriting program. The song was based around themes in MACBETH.

BUOSO'S GHOST

One of the points of this blog is to record for posterity things related to my composing. Composers are obsessed with their legacy... This summer the Lake George Opera does my opera, BUOSO'S GHOST. Looking around the other day on the web, I discovered it wasn't easy to find a synopsis of the opera, so here it is, really for reference:

Synopsis to BUOSO'S GHOST

A sequel to GIANNI SCHICCHI, BUOSO'S GHOST begins with the final bars of GIANNI SCHICCHI. As the sequel begins, we see Lauretta and Rinnuccio, arm in arm, planning their future. Feeling the proud father, Schicchi, looks on. The couple go off to buy their wedding ring. Alone, Schicchi straightens up the house. He sees some food and wine that the relatives have brought and sits down for a snack. But he discovers that the food and drink have all been poisoned by the relations.

He is interrupted by a knock at the door. Two brothers have come to collect on Buoso Donati's will. Schicchi shows them the "revised" document and they leave in shock. Alone, Schicchi imagines the relatives making their plans to poison old Uncle Buoso.

We hear the relatives approaching. Quickly Schicchi scribbles a note and tucks it into Buoso's nightshirt. They have come screaming for blood. Just as they are about to beat Schicchi senseless, a magistrate arrives to try the case.

The relatives immediately assume an air of mourning. Then they angrily accuse Schicchi of murdering uncle Buoso. Schicchi beseeches them for mercy. He sneaks up to each one and tells them that he knows that they have poisoned Buoso's food and drink. They are stunned and worried. They quickly switch gears. Each group of relatives offers Schicchi a bribe if he will blame somebody else, but Schicchi makes no promises.

The magistrate brings everyone back to order. When Old Simone refuses to accuse Schicchi, then the magistrate does it himself. Schicchi defends himself, keeping the relatives on pins and needles. Finally, sobbing he goes over to Uncle Buoso's body and falls on the corpse. He pulls out the note and reads it: UNcle Buoso has committed suicide. All are shocked at this horrible sin. The magistrate is miffed that he can't condemn Schicchi and leaves.

Alone, the relatives realize that Schicchi has outwitted them again. Jokingly, Betto says that they will get the money back in the long run cause Rinnuccio and Lauretta are getting married. They realize they can just kill Schicchi now and inherit everything.

Overhearing this, Schicchi prepares. He hides behind the body and blows out the candles. He summons the ghost of Buoso Donati and scares the family from the house.

In an echo of the end of the Puccini, Schicchi comes downstage and asks the audience to forgive the upstart composer for writing the sequel.

NYT Article about stroke victim who learned to talk by singing

Check out this fascinating NYT article about a man who learned to talk again after a stroke by singing.

There is a clip of him talking too which sounds just like recitative in opera. Now we have proof that recitative is good for you!

High Water in Memphis

Some of my out of town friends have been concerned that we were flooding here in Memphis. Memphis doesn't really flood. It was smartly located on a bluff, and all the spare water flows over into Arkansas. However, this picture is of the high water near the Mud Island Riverwalk. All of the trees are normally out of the water. You can see from the debris in the lower left of the picture, that it's actually gone down a little bit.

New Production

Last Friday we had a meeting in New York City with the Director (Larry Marshall) and the Designer (Kris Stone) for our upcoming production of Scott Joplin and Treemonisha. Allison Merritt, our ED/Production Director also attended.

Joplin never got to see his opera performed. As a result there are some awkward parts, which we are going to try to fix. It's a real pleasure to be able to work on a project from the beginning. Most regional opera involves renting other people's scenery, and doing the music pretty much as is. This will be much more interesting.

Cenerentola Photos

Number One Beale

Our party after CENERENTOLA was at the showroom of Number One Beale. As you can see, it has a beautiful view of the river.

Maestro Jeff Capwell

Last night, we had a guest conductor for the Nat'l Anthem and the Overture to CENERENTOLA. Jeff Capwell is a longtime board member and supporter. Before he went into the business world, he was a band director for many years. He did a fine job with the overture.