Children's and Liturgical Opera Company, LLC
www.chancelopera.com
 

OPERAS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS: Daniel's Gift

 
 
 
DANIEL'S GIFT

a Christmas tale by M.C. Helldorfer*
music and libretto by Susan Hulsman Bingham

Louis Le Nain, Adoration of the Shepherds, detail

 
* The original text of DANIEL'S GIFT is published by Bradbury Press, an Affiliate of Macmillan, Inc.
Text © 1987 by Mary-Claire helldorfer. Adapted with the permissiion of the author and the publisher.
All rights reserved.
 

VOICING:

 

Sop, sop, bar, bar, treb, treb, treb, one non-singing child's part, and two trebles from chorus (mentioned below) who sing a duet.

CAST:

 

Daniel (treble), Zeke (treble), Ralph (treble), a Lamb (non singing), Mak (baritone), Mak's wife (soprano), Pair of Angels (part of chorus - trebles), Mary (soprano), Joseph (baritone).

ACCOMPANIMENT:

 

piano, recorder

CHORUS:
   trebles sing in chorus but are all part of the acting cast

DANCE:

 

none

PROPS:

  traditional Biblical shepherds and nativity regalia

SOURCE OF TEXTS:

 

M.C. Helldorfer, DANIEL'S GIFT

LANGUAGE:

 

English

MUSICAL STYLE:

  tonal, melodic, traditionally harmonic but gently experimental and with a seasonal "feel".

SCENES:

 

one

DURATION:

 

20 minutes

MORE SOUND SAMPLES::

Sound Sample One: brothers are looking for one lost sheep Barbara Yeichner, soprano, Ginger Stevens, child soprano, Thomas Whitney and Jeremy Hutchins, trebles.

Sound Sample Two: near the end of the opera Sung by the Children's Chorus of the Chancel Opera Company of Connecticut. Hannah Howard, recorder, and Susan Bingham, pianist.

Entire opera DANIEL'S GIFT on YouTube. Click here to watch. Film is very dark at outset, as the action takes place at night. Bear with us, as it lightens up later in this short film.

SYNOPSIS

Two shepherd brothers are sleeping. A thief dupes wakeful Daniel, the third and youngest brother, takes his one lamb and hides it. A noisy hunt ensues. After the lamb is retrieved, angels appear to Daniel, telling of the birth of the Christ Child. Daniel finds the manger and offers a gift.

Musical score: $58. Price includes shipping and handling within the U.S. Price also includes performing rights and permission to make sufficient copies for cast and accompanists for one group or company for one season.


DVD available which includes libretto: $28. Price includes shipping and handling in the U.S.

 


 

Composer's comment: a magical opera, if I do say so myself. Has a real seasonal flavor. Fun solo parts for a few children and several adults. One non-singing part for a small child.