OPERA
Key to preferred voice types: C: coloratura or high soprano; S: soprano; M: mezzo-soprano; A: alto; Ct: counter tenor; T: tenor; b: baritone; Bb: bass-baritone;
B: bass. Fachs and genders may be switched as desired.
In Three Parts or Acts:
Ample Make This Bed: 55 poems by Emily Dickinson (in public domain). Three Sections: Love, Nature, and Immortality; 80 minutes (45 movements): for 3 or more dancers (at least 2 are male), male reader, Bb, TbB chorus and trio, and orchestra:
2 2+ 2+ 2+; 1/1/1/1 ; percussion, timpani; harp; and strings, or chamber ensemble: 60 minutes (55 shorter movements): above dancers, reader and Bb; with TbB solo trio; E. H., Clar. (B. Clar.), Bssn. (C. Bssn.); piano and (D.B.) string quartet. Set in the 1980s, a gay man (bass-baritone) has a wild sex life; and his lover (reader) contracts AIDS and dies. The couple deal with AIDS, betrayal, redemption and resurrection. The story is NOT at all auto-biographical, but the fears are real. See also Ballet and Choral Music, however this work is best defined as a Ballet. Unperformed.
Edward II: Can be heard on this site. Libretto by the composer after the play by Christopher Marlowe. Two hours of music (40 numbers); Six 20 Tableaux, each are 20 minutes without the narrations; so the work may be divided into two (60 minutes each) or three acts (40 minutes each). 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 C as Queen Isabella; Michael Belle T as Gaveston; Christopher Aaron Smith T as Mortimer; Brett Johnson b as Edward III; Thomas Dawkins Bb as The Executioner; Andrew Swan Bb as Lightborn; David Edgar Walther Bb 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, C; Christopher Aaron Smith, T; David Edgar Walther, Bb; and pianist, Yelena Birayeva. Featured under Media on this web site. Since 2014 Edward II, has been serialized multiple times on numerous Facebook groups. The whole work is available above under: "Listen to Edward II." Nine selections were recorded earlier by Olive Woodward S as Isabella; Andrew Cohen Ct as Edward III; David Swerdlove B as Lightborn; Ken Orton b as The Executioner and Bill Hays (T) and the composer (various roles each). The pianist was Bob Winkler.
In Two Parts or Acts:
Antigon: Libretto by the composer after Sophocles. Two Acts: One hour and fifteen minutes: may be done without intermission. SATB with optional chorus and piano or chamber orchestra: 2+/2+/2+2+ 2/2/1/1 percussion, timpani, piano, harp & strings; 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; Angeliki Theoharis, mezzo-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. This opera may be performed as the first half (without intermission) of "Three Character Studies."
The Balcony: Libretto by the composer after the play by Jean Genet, as translated by Bernard Frechman. One hour and 40 minutes: 11 scenes: 4 to 12 singers: SMTB or 4S M 3T 4B, with piano or orchestra: 2+/2+/2+/2+; 2/2/2/1; percussion, timpani, banjo, guitar, piano, celesta, harp and strings. 11 scenes in Two Acts; includes spoken dialogue, micro-tones, sprechstimmer. The inclusion of many rebel and royalist mime soldiers greatly helps the production. The Bishop's fantasy (Act I, scene v: 19 minutes) was cablecast in 1990 on BNN TV with Emma Rahn-Lopez, S, as Dove; Meg Raines, M, as Madame Irma; the composer, B, as The Bishop. The pianist was Shinobu Takagi. Directed by Richard Mott. Text permission granted by the publisher. The Bishop's opening monologue performed, several times in various venues, by the composer with Sam Walter, pianist. The role of Madame Irma was brilliantly read by M, Angeliki Theoharis. Finished: 4/16/17.
Hamlet: Updated and politically correct libretto by the composer, based on the play by William Shakespeare. 90 minutes: 52 numbers in Two Acts (11 scenes); for 8 singers: C S M A CT T b bB, 3 mimes and attendants, with piano or 2/2/2/2+; 2/2/2/1; percussion, timpani, harp, piano, celesta and strings; or various chamber ensembles exist. 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 C as Gertrude, Susan Craft Larson M as Laertes, Christopher Aaron Smith T as Hamlet, and the composer Bb as Claudius, accompanied by pianist, Osnat Netzer. BMO also performed I/i, I/v (partial); II/ii and II/iv with Carol Millard C (Gertrude); Sophie Michaux M (Leartes); Christopher Aaron Smith T (Hamlet); David Edgar Walther Bb (Claudius) and pianist, Artem Belogurov on December 15, 2012 with a lecture by Daniel John Carol. The Ghost and Claudius may be played by one singer. The text is ALL by Shakespeare, but there are some new twists and re-directions.
King Lear: Based on the play by William Shakespeare; (One hour; 40 numbers in Two Parts: Seven Tableaux) for 7 singers: C S M A T b B and piano or orchestra: 2/2/2/2+; 2/2/1/1; percussion, timpani, harp, and strings. Cordelia and Edgar may be played by one singer (m or b), as may Lear and Gloucester (A or B). Cordelia may be performed by a Ct. Faithful to the original, except for large cuts in text and cast.
One Act Gothic Operas:
Birthday on The Moon: Libretto and story by the composer. 35 minutes. SATB and piano or orchestra 2/2/2/2 2/2/2/1 3 timpani and strings. Second place winner in the 2011 Long Leaf Opera Competition. Unperformed.
The Bunny Wars: Libretto and story by the composer. 10 minutes. SATB, and piano or orchestra 2/2/2/2 2/2/1/1. An anti-war comedy: to avoid World War III, two low ranking soldiers replace weapons with bunny ears. Unperformed.
The Great Trans-Sexual Journey: Narrations by the composer with poems by James Joyce (under copyright); one hour. narrator, up to 5 singers: S M b bB B (genders and fachs may vary) with dancers and small orchestra: percussion (cymbals, gong, bass drum, & xylophone), celesta, piano, harp and strings. The first number (harp solo) was premiered 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.
The Swallow and The Prince: Can be seen and heard (2 versions) in it's entirety on this website. Libretto by the composer after Oscar Wilde. 45 minutes. For 4-6 singers: SMTB, 2/2/2/2+; 2/2/1/1 celesta, piano, harp and strings. Other versions: flute, and piano; or flute, clarinet, violoncello, and piano. Premiered in 2001 by The Acting Singers Project with Carol Millard C as The Swallow; Sarah Griffiths S as The Caring Lover and The Dramatist; David Thorne Scott T as The Sick Lover and The Fisherman; David Walther, bass-baritone, as The Prince; and Karla Kelley, Pianist. Scene I also performed with the sopranos: Mary Saunders, Shinobu Takagi, and Janet Wheeler as The Swallow, with baritones: Brett Johnson and Drew Poling as The Prince with Pianists: Tanya Shrego, Christopher Walter and Samuel Walter. Performed on June 6, 2015 at The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Dedham, MA: Carol Millard, C & Flute; Adriana Repetto S, Patient & Fish Catcher; Susan Craft Larson M, Nurse & Dramatist; David Walther B, Prince; Leah Kosch, Pianist; Dahne Naher, Narrator. Recorded by Mike Burke. This performance was sponsored, in part, by a grant from the City of Dedham Arts Council.
Short Gothic Opera Cycles:
I. Aesop's Fables: SATB and medium orchestra or piano; c. 32 and a half minute cycle, with libretti by the composer. (See also "The Ant and The Grashopper" in the above section)
1. The Race of The Tortoise and The Hare: 3 minutes. STB and violoncelli and double basses. Unperformed.
2. The Ant and The Grasshopper: Libretto by the composer based on Aesop's Fable (This work may performed separately); 7 minutes; SATB, flute, bassoon, hard brass, gong and harp. Two sections premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Roselin Osser, mezzo-soprano; David Edgar Walther, bass; and Aaron Likeness, piano.
3. The Fox and The Raven: 4 and a half minutes. ST with violin or viola solo and 'cello solo. Premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; Ceceilia Allwein, soprano; and Aaron Likness, piano.
4. The Lion and The Mouse: 13 minutes and 45 seconds. TB and medium orchestra. Premiered in 2010 by Boston Metro Opera with Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; David Edgar Walther, bass; and Aaron Likeness, piano.
5. The Re-match of The Tortoise and The Hare: as before. Unperformed.
II. Three Surrealist Gothic Operas: Libretto & story by the composer; about 40 minutes.
1. Kali: 14 minutes. 5 movments; double woodwinds, 2 percussion, Timpani, harp, actress sawing open strings on a violin and 4 singers (CMAB). 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. Starts before the birth of all things, ends after the end of all things. The middle movements explore the ordinary life of things (window, closet, chair, table, pen, paper, flame, candle). See Tarot Symphony #21.
2. The Sin-eater: Can be viewed on this website. 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. The Sin-eater eats truly inconsequential "sins."
3. Eye of Carrot: 10 minutes. S B and piano or string orchestra. A man becomes pregnant and is blamed for infidelity by his wife. Unperformed.
Short Choral Gothic Operas:
Daniel: 30 min. with STB with chorus, and piano or medium sized orchestra 2/2+/2+/2+ 3/2/1/1 2 timpani, harp and strings. There is a version with two French horns. The text is by 13th century students of Beauvais Cathedral, as translated by Jean Misrahi, is under copyright (1959). There is also an out of copyright version based on the original latin text. Both versions are unperformed.
The Other Wise Man: Libretto by the composer after the story by Henry van Dyke; 30 minutes (the original production was one hour). 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. Also performed at The United Parish in Brookline, MA under Peter Kaisarsky. Updated version: "The Other Wise Woman."
Ritual: Libretto by Andrew Swan; 30 minutes; SAATB with chorus and flute; French horn; and violoncello; alternate version SSMBB with flute, tenor saxophone and viola. "Blessings on This House" was performed three times by BMO (see listing above and under Operas) See above listing. Otherwise unperformed. Hero (S) learns lessons, faces a demon (T) and receives many gifts (from MAB). "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 Opera Cycles:
Orchestration: 2/2/2/2; 2/2/1-2/1; percussion, timpani, harp, piano, celesta, and strings.
Two Operas based on Shakespeare: 2 and a half hours: King Lear (intermission); Hamlet Act I (intermission); Hamlet Act II; or Hamlet (intermission); King Lear. 7 or 8 singers.
Three Character Studies: 2 hours and 15 minutes with mixed chorus: Antigon (intermission); Daniel (intermission); & Moratorium (this last is best done with dancers and mimes.) 4 singers. "The Other Wise Man or Woman" may also be included, but adds hand bells.
One Act Operas: 2 hours and 15 minutes: The Swallow and The Prince (intermission) Aesop's Fables & Bunny Wars (intermission) Birthday on The Moon. 4 - 6 singers.