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CHAMBER OPERA: Tiny Operas
TINY OPERAS
three tales by O'Henry • music and libretto by Susan Bingham
Program cover for premier performance by Susan Smith of GRANDESIGN
VOICING:
Sop, sop, ten, bar
CAST:
1. THE LAST LEAF
Sudie (soprano), Johnsy (soprano),
Behrman (tenor), Doctor (baritone)
2. MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN
Thief (tenor), Citizen (baritone)
3. GIFT OF THE MAGI
Della (soprano) and Jim (tenor)
ACCOMPANIMENT:
treble chorus, SATB chorus
CHORUS:
treble chorus
DANCE:
none unless this opera is staged (rather than using puppets)
PROPS:
Simple and spare.
SOURCE OF TEXTS:
O'Henry tales
LANGUAGE:
English
MUSICAL STYLE:
tonal, melodic, lyrical
SCENES:
each opera is one scene
DURATION:
20 minutes each; one hour total
PREMIER:
Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven, CT, 1984 with stage direction by Jeanne Bartlett Kerr and Trina Mace
REVIEW:
"Delightful, melodious, charming,
inspiring . . ."
The New Haven Register
"Everyone loved [TINY OPERAS] and was deeply moved by the music and performances. The cast loved working on them and especially loved the beautiful vocal writing. We had a lot of fun also and laughs working on [MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN]".
Beverly McGuire
Private voice instructor
Concordia University
Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Judith Caldwell, soprano, and Kyle Pruett, tenor, in
rehearsal
Photo: New Haven Register
SYNOPSES of the OPERAS
Poster cutouts by Susan Bingham
1. THE LAST LEAF
The poignant story of three artists: Johnsy, who is very ill, and dying; Behrman, a drunken old man who awaits the inspiration for his great masterpiece; and Sudie, who witnesses the suffering of both. Johnsy is convinced she will die when the last leaf falls from the vine outside her window. Through Sudie, her devoted friend, Behrman learns of the dying girl's plan and, as a result, paints his one and only masterpiece.
Click here to hear a sound sample sung by Judith Caldwell, soprano (Sudie).
2. MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN
An encounter between a thief and a citizen. Their common ailment provides an unusual twist to their confrontation.
Click here to hear a sound sample sung by Kyle Pruett, tenor (Thief) and Timothy Bingham, baritone (Victim).
3. GIFT OF THE MAGI
A Christmas love story in which a young husband and wife sacrifice their most valuable possessions to express their love for each other. She sells her beautiful hair to buy a chain for his watch, and he sells his prized watch to buy combs for her golden tresses. Click here to hear a duet sung by Judith Caldwell, soprano (Della), and Kyle Pruett, tenor (Jim).
TINY OPERAS musical score : $75. Price includes shipping within the US. Price also includes performing rights and permission to make sufficient copies for cast and accompanists within one group or company for one season.
DVD available which includes libretto: $28. Price includes shipping and handling in the U.S.
Price of score includes permission for producers to make sufficient copies for cast members, accompanist and conductor and permission to use the opera for one season of performances, provided that the Composer and Publisher are acknowledged and provided that the contact information (directly below) is included in the program or credits or is made available to interested parties.