Key to preferred voice types: C: coloratura or high soprano; S: soprano; M: mezzo-soprano; MA: mezzo-alto; A: alto; Ct: counter tenor; b: baritone; Bb: bass-baritone; B: bass. Fachs and genders may be switched as desired.
Full Length Operatic Dramas:
AIDS Requiem: 50 poems by Emily Dickinson (in public domain). One and one half hours; Three Sections. dancers, male reader, Bb, male chorus, harp, harpsichord, and piano; or chamber orchestra: 1+1+ 1+ 2+; 2 french horns; 2 percussion; harp, piano and strings. A gay man (bass-baritone) has a wild sex life; his lover (reader) contracts AIDS and dies. The couple deal with AIDS, betrayal, redemption and resurrection. This work is difficult to place as it has elements of several genres: see also Ballet and Choral Music. Unperformed.
The Balcony: Libretto by the composer after the play by Jean Genet, translated by Bernard Frenchman. Incomplete. Orchestra: 2/2/2/2; 2/2/2/1; 2; harp and strings. One 19 minute scene: "The Bishop" was cablecast in 1990 on BNN TV with Emma Rahn-Lopez, S, as The Dove; Meg Raines, M, as Madame Irma; the composer, B, as The Bishop; and Shinobu Takagi, piano. Directed by Richard Mott. Text permission granted by the publisher. Also finished: "The Beggar" (a dance number) "The Judge" "The Rebel" and an aria for Madame Irma. "Bishop's Monologue" performed by the composer with Samuel Walter, pianist.
Edward II: Libretto by the composer after the play by Christopher Marlowe. Two hours of music (40 numbers) Three Acts (6 Tableaux). C T T b bB (B), narrator (B), and piano, chamber ensemble (see recording credits below) or medium sized orchestra: 2+2+2+2+; 2/2/2/1; 2; celesta, harp, piano and strings. A gay king and his lover are tormented by his ex-wife and her lover. Professionally recorded by The Acting Singers Project in 2009-2010 at Futura Studios in Roslindale, MA; by Mike Burke, chief recording engineer. Carol Millard as Queen Isabella; Michael Belle as Gaveston; Christopher Aaron Smith as Mortimer; Brett Johnson as Edward III; Thomas Dawkins as The Executioner; Andrew Swan as Lightborn; David Edgar Walther as Edward II; Carol Millard, flute/piccolo; Thomas Dawkins, english horn/bassoon/contra bassoon; Christian Contreras, clarinet/tenor saxophone; Russell Southcott, guitar (alternate version, with harp); Leah Kosch, piano; and Priscilla Chew and Sam Ou, violoncelli (only one 'cello is required, the recording used an ensemble player (PC) and a soloist (SO). Selections premiered on January 27, 2012 with Boston Metro Opera with Carol Millard, Christopher Aaron Smith, David Edgar Walther, and pianist, Yelena Birayeva. Selections featured under Media on this web site.
Hamlet: Updated and politically correct libretto by the composer, based on the play by William Shakespeare. 50 numbers in Two Acts (11 scenes); 90 minutes; for 8 singers: C S M A CT T b bB, optional chorus of 2, 3 mimes and attendants, with piano or medium sized orchestra: 2+/1+1/1+1/1+1; 2/2/2/1; 2; harp, piano, celesta and strings; or chamber ensemble of flute, clarinet (doubling tenor saxophone), violoncello and piano. Commissioned by Boston Metro Opera. Act I, scene i and "Laertes' Lament" (II/iv) premiered on May 12, 2012 by Boston Metro Opera with Carol Millard as Gertrude, Susan Craft as Laertes, Christopher Aaron Smith as Hamlet, and the composer as Claudius, accompanied by pianist, Osnat Netzer. BMO also performed I/i, I/v (partial); II/ii and II/iv with Carol Millard (Gertrude); Sophie Michaux (Leartes); Christopher Aaron Smith (Hamlet); David Edgar Walther (Claudius) and pianist, Artem Belogurov on December 15, 2012 with a pre-concert lecture by Daniel John Carol.
One-Act Operatic Dramas:
Antigon: Libretto by the composer after Sophocles. One hour and fifteen minutes. SATB and piano or chamber orchestra: 1/1+/1+/1+; 1/1/1/1; 1; 1/1/1/1; with piano, and optional harp,and tenor saxophone, doubling a second clarinet. More strings may be added. Premiered in November 2010 with Sara Mayo, soprano; Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; Jeremy Collier, bass-baritone; and Stewart Kramer, piano. Winner of the Boston Metro Opera Mainstage Award. Selections performed on January 27, 2012 with Boston Metro Opera by tenor, Christopher Aaron Smith; and pianist, Yelena Birayeva. Selections featured on YouTube and under Media on this website.
The Great Trans-Sexual Journey: Narrations by the composer with poems by James Joyce (under copyright); one hour. SATBB with dancers and medium orchestra: 2/2/2/2; 2/2/2/1; 2; harp and strings or percussion, harp, harmonium and piano. Premiered in part in 1990 by Kenetic Dance Company of Moscow under the name "The Journey." A gay man goes to an alternate universe to destroy "The Beast" but, as a gay man, he would be killed immediately, so he goes as a woman; he finds the love of his life there, and the two women return to the original universe as gay men to continue their love.
King Lear: Projected 60 minutes in 6 scenes for 5-7 singers: C S M A Ct T B with medium size orchestra: 2/2/2/2+ 2/2/2/1 2; celesta, harp and strings; or chamber ensemble (TBA). Scene i completed: arias for Goneril (S); Regan (C); Cordelia (Ct) and Lear (A or B). Music started on 2/19/13 on completing the libretto. Scene ii: 3/18/13 and 3/24/13 including 2 arias for Edmund (T) and his duet with Gloucester (A or B).
The Swallow and The Prince: Libretto by the composer after Oscar Wilde. 40 minues. SMTB, Flute, and Piano. Version for chamber ensemble with high soprano, 1-2 soprani or mezzo-soprani, 1-2 tenors, bass, flute, clarinet, violoncello, and piano. Premiered in 2001 by The Acting Singers Project with Carol Millard as The Swallow; Sarah Griffiths as The Caring Lover and The Dramatist; David Thorne Scott as The Sick Lover and The Fisherman; David Edgar Walther as The Prince; and Karla Kelley, Pianist. Scene I also performed with: Mary Saunders, Shinobu Takagi, and Janet Wheeler as The Swallow, with Brett Johnson and Drew Poling as The Prince with Pianists: Tanya Shrego, Christopher Walter and Samuel Walter. Inspired by the play by Nona Balakian. Selections performed on January 27, 2012 with Boston Metro Opera with soprano Carol Millard; and pianist, Yelena Birayeva.
Short Operatic Dramas:
The Ant and The Grasshopper: Libretto by the composer based on Aesop's Fable (see Cycle of Aesop's Fables in next section). 7 minutes. SATB, flute, harp, bassoon and piano. Two sections premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Roselin Osser, mezzo-soprano; David Edgar Walther, bass; and Aaron Likeness, piano.
The Bunny Wars: Libretto and story by the composer. 20 minutes. SATB, and Piano. An anti-war comedy: two low ranking soldiers replace weapons with bunny ears. Unperformed.
Birthday on The Moon: Libretto and story by the composer. 25 minutes. SATB and piano or piano and percussion or chamber ensemble (english horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, french horn, percussion, timpani, string quartet and double bass with optional string doubling). Second place winner in the 2011 Long Leaf Opera Competition. Unperformed.
Short Operatic Drama Cycles:
I. Aesop's Fables: 12 minute cycle, with libretti by the composer. (See also "The Ant and The Grasshopper" in the above section)
1. The Fox and The Raven: 4 minutes. ST & piano or viola. Premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; Ceceilia Allwein, soprano; and Aaron Likness, piano.
2. The Lion and The Mouse: 5 minutes. high voice, low voice, & piano or string orchestra with optional Harp. Premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; David Edgar Walther, bass; and Aaron Likeness, piano.
3. The Tortoise and The Hare: 3 minutes. STB and bassoon or violoncello. Unperformed.
II. Three Surrealist Operatic Dramas: Libretto and story by the composer.
1. Kali: 14 minutes. various # of voices, Harp, Woodwinds, and Percussion. Premiered (unstaged) in 2001 by The Acting Singers Project with Carol Millard, high soprano; Danute Mileko, mezzo-soprano; David Edgar Walther, bass; and synthesized tape.
2. The Sin-eater: 17 minutes. Actor, 2 High Voices, 2 Medium Voices, 2 Low Voices, and Violoncello. Premiered in 2000 by The Acting Singers Project and cablecast on BNN TV with Vanessa Schukis, actress; Carol Millard, high soprano; Anita Constanzo, alto; Drew Polling, baritone, and Shu'Ann Chou, pianist.
3. Eye of Carrot: 10 minutes. S B and Piano or Strings. A man becomes pregnant and is blamed for infidelity by his wife. Unperformed.
Choral Operatic Dramas:
Daniel: 30 min. with STB with chorus, and piano or orchestra (single winds). Text under copyright. Unperformed.
The Other Wise Man: Libretto by the composer after the story by Henry van Dyke. 30 minutes. SSAABB, flute, bassoon, harp, hand-bells, chorus, actors and narrator; commissioned and performed by The Hancock Church, Lexington, MA, under Donald Maher. William Cavness, narrator. Cablecast in Lexington. Updated version: "The Other Wise Woman."
Ritual: Libretto by Andrew Swan; 30 minutes; SATB with chorus and instruments. Hero (S) learns lessons, faces a demon (T) and receives many gifts. "Blessings on This House" won first place in the Boston Metro Opera International Composition Competition in the choral music category, and premiered, with two additional performances, by BOM. The rest is unperformed.
Full Length Operatic Dramas:
AIDS Requiem: 50 poems by Emily Dickinson (in public domain). One and one half hours; Three Sections. dancers, male reader, Bb, male chorus, harp, harpsichord, and piano; or chamber orchestra: 1+1+ 1+ 2+; 2 french horns; 2 percussion; harp, piano and strings. A gay man (bass-baritone) has a wild sex life; his lover (reader) contracts AIDS and dies. The couple deal with AIDS, betrayal, redemption and resurrection. This work is difficult to place as it has elements of several genres: see also Ballet and Choral Music. Unperformed.
The Balcony: Libretto by the composer after the play by Jean Genet, translated by Bernard Frenchman. Incomplete. Orchestra: 2/2/2/2; 2/2/2/1; 2; harp and strings. One 19 minute scene: "The Bishop" was cablecast in 1990 on BNN TV with Emma Rahn-Lopez, S, as The Dove; Meg Raines, M, as Madame Irma; the composer, B, as The Bishop; and Shinobu Takagi, piano. Directed by Richard Mott. Text permission granted by the publisher. Also finished: "The Beggar" (a dance number) "The Judge" "The Rebel" and an aria for Madame Irma. "Bishop's Monologue" performed by the composer with Samuel Walter, pianist.
Edward II: Libretto by the composer after the play by Christopher Marlowe. Two hours of music (40 numbers) Three Acts (6 Tableaux). C T T b bB (B), narrator (B), and piano, chamber ensemble (see recording credits below) or medium sized orchestra: 2+2+2+2+; 2/2/2/1; 2; celesta, harp, piano and strings. A gay king and his lover are tormented by his ex-wife and her lover. Professionally recorded by The Acting Singers Project in 2009-2010 at Futura Studios in Roslindale, MA; by Mike Burke, chief recording engineer. Carol Millard as Queen Isabella; Michael Belle as Gaveston; Christopher Aaron Smith as Mortimer; Brett Johnson as Edward III; Thomas Dawkins as The Executioner; Andrew Swan as Lightborn; David Edgar Walther as Edward II; Carol Millard, flute/piccolo; Thomas Dawkins, english horn/bassoon/contra bassoon; Christian Contreras, clarinet/tenor saxophone; Russell Southcott, guitar (alternate version, with harp); Leah Kosch, piano; and Priscilla Chew and Sam Ou, violoncelli (only one 'cello is required, the recording used an ensemble player (PC) and a soloist (SO). Selections premiered on January 27, 2012 with Boston Metro Opera with Carol Millard, Christopher Aaron Smith, David Edgar Walther, and pianist, Yelena Birayeva. Selections featured under Media on this web site.
Hamlet: Updated and politically correct libretto by the composer, based on the play by William Shakespeare. 50 numbers in Two Acts (11 scenes); 90 minutes; for 8 singers: C S M A CT T b bB, optional chorus of 2, 3 mimes and attendants, with piano or medium sized orchestra: 2+/1+1/1+1/1+1; 2/2/2/1; 2; harp, piano, celesta and strings; or chamber ensemble of flute, clarinet (doubling tenor saxophone), violoncello and piano. Commissioned by Boston Metro Opera. Act I, scene i and "Laertes' Lament" (II/iv) premiered on May 12, 2012 by Boston Metro Opera with Carol Millard as Gertrude, Susan Craft as Laertes, Christopher Aaron Smith as Hamlet, and the composer as Claudius, accompanied by pianist, Osnat Netzer. BMO also performed I/i, I/v (partial); II/ii and II/iv with Carol Millard (Gertrude); Sophie Michaux (Leartes); Christopher Aaron Smith (Hamlet); David Edgar Walther (Claudius) and pianist, Artem Belogurov on December 15, 2012 with a pre-concert lecture by Daniel John Carol.
One-Act Operatic Dramas:
Antigon: Libretto by the composer after Sophocles. One hour and fifteen minutes. SATB and piano or chamber orchestra: 1/1+/1+/1+; 1/1/1/1; 1; 1/1/1/1; with piano, and optional harp,and tenor saxophone, doubling a second clarinet. More strings may be added. Premiered in November 2010 with Sara Mayo, soprano; Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; Jeremy Collier, bass-baritone; and Stewart Kramer, piano. Winner of the Boston Metro Opera Mainstage Award. Selections performed on January 27, 2012 with Boston Metro Opera by tenor, Christopher Aaron Smith; and pianist, Yelena Birayeva. Selections featured on YouTube and under Media on this website.
The Great Trans-Sexual Journey: Narrations by the composer with poems by James Joyce (under copyright); one hour. SATBB with dancers and medium orchestra: 2/2/2/2; 2/2/2/1; 2; harp and strings or percussion, harp, harmonium and piano. Premiered in part in 1990 by Kenetic Dance Company of Moscow under the name "The Journey." A gay man goes to an alternate universe to destroy "The Beast" but, as a gay man, he would be killed immediately, so he goes as a woman; he finds the love of his life there, and the two women return to the original universe as gay men to continue their love.
King Lear: Projected 60 minutes in 6 scenes for 5-7 singers: C S M A Ct T B with medium size orchestra: 2/2/2/2+ 2/2/2/1 2; celesta, harp and strings; or chamber ensemble (TBA). Scene i completed: arias for Goneril (S); Regan (C); Cordelia (Ct) and Lear (A or B). Music started on 2/19/13 on completing the libretto. Scene ii: 3/18/13 and 3/24/13 including 2 arias for Edmund (T) and his duet with Gloucester (A or B).
The Swallow and The Prince: Libretto by the composer after Oscar Wilde. 40 minues. SMTB, Flute, and Piano. Version for chamber ensemble with high soprano, 1-2 soprani or mezzo-soprani, 1-2 tenors, bass, flute, clarinet, violoncello, and piano. Premiered in 2001 by The Acting Singers Project with Carol Millard as The Swallow; Sarah Griffiths as The Caring Lover and The Dramatist; David Thorne Scott as The Sick Lover and The Fisherman; David Edgar Walther as The Prince; and Karla Kelley, Pianist. Scene I also performed with: Mary Saunders, Shinobu Takagi, and Janet Wheeler as The Swallow, with Brett Johnson and Drew Poling as The Prince with Pianists: Tanya Shrego, Christopher Walter and Samuel Walter. Inspired by the play by Nona Balakian. Selections performed on January 27, 2012 with Boston Metro Opera with soprano Carol Millard; and pianist, Yelena Birayeva.
Short Operatic Dramas:
The Ant and The Grasshopper: Libretto by the composer based on Aesop's Fable (see Cycle of Aesop's Fables in next section). 7 minutes. SATB, flute, harp, bassoon and piano. Two sections premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Roselin Osser, mezzo-soprano; David Edgar Walther, bass; and Aaron Likeness, piano.
The Bunny Wars: Libretto and story by the composer. 20 minutes. SATB, and Piano. An anti-war comedy: two low ranking soldiers replace weapons with bunny ears. Unperformed.
Birthday on The Moon: Libretto and story by the composer. 25 minutes. SATB and piano or piano and percussion or chamber ensemble (english horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, french horn, percussion, timpani, string quartet and double bass with optional string doubling). Second place winner in the 2011 Long Leaf Opera Competition. Unperformed.
Short Operatic Drama Cycles:
I. Aesop's Fables: 12 minute cycle, with libretti by the composer. (See also "The Ant and The Grasshopper" in the above section)
1. The Fox and The Raven: 4 minutes. ST & piano or viola. Premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; Ceceilia Allwein, soprano; and Aaron Likness, piano.
2. The Lion and The Mouse: 5 minutes. high voice, low voice, & piano or string orchestra with optional Harp. Premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; David Edgar Walther, bass; and Aaron Likeness, piano.
3. The Tortoise and The Hare: 3 minutes. STB and bassoon or violoncello. Unperformed.
II. Three Surrealist Operatic Dramas: Libretto and story by the composer.
1. Kali: 14 minutes. various # of voices, Harp, Woodwinds, and Percussion. Premiered (unstaged) in 2001 by The Acting Singers Project with Carol Millard, high soprano; Danute Mileko, mezzo-soprano; David Edgar Walther, bass; and synthesized tape.
2. The Sin-eater: 17 minutes. Actor, 2 High Voices, 2 Medium Voices, 2 Low Voices, and Violoncello. Premiered in 2000 by The Acting Singers Project and cablecast on BNN TV with Vanessa Schukis, actress; Carol Millard, high soprano; Anita Constanzo, alto; Drew Polling, baritone, and Shu'Ann Chou, pianist.
3. Eye of Carrot: 10 minutes. S B and Piano or Strings. A man becomes pregnant and is blamed for infidelity by his wife. Unperformed.
Choral Operatic Dramas:
Daniel: 30 min. with STB with chorus, and piano or orchestra (single winds). Text under copyright. Unperformed.
The Other Wise Man: Libretto by the composer after the story by Henry van Dyke. 30 minutes. SSAABB, flute, bassoon, harp, hand-bells, chorus, actors and narrator; commissioned and performed by The Hancock Church, Lexington, MA, under Donald Maher. William Cavness, narrator. Cablecast in Lexington. Updated version: "The Other Wise Woman."
Ritual: Libretto by Andrew Swan; 30 minutes; SATB with chorus and instruments. Hero (S) learns lessons, faces a demon (T) and receives many gifts. "Blessings on This House" won first place in the Boston Metro Opera International Composition Competition in the choral music category, and premiered, with two additional performances, by BOM. The rest is unperformed.
