Music Theatre since 1990 - Schott Music

John Casken
God‘s Liar
An opera after Tolstoy
Libretto by Emma Warner and John Casken
Origin: 1999-2000
Language: English
2001
Cast: Prince Stepan Kasatsky / Father Sergius · bass baritone – Stephen · tenor – Countess Marie
Korotkova (19th century), Fiancée of Kasatsky · soprano – Mary (20th century), Stephen’s Literary
Agent · soprano – Makovkina (19th century), a wealthy Widow · soprano – Film Star (20th
century) · soprano – Mary (19th century), Daughter of a Merchant · soprano – Pasha (19th
century), a Farmer’s Wife · Soprano – the Woman (20th century) · soprano
Chorus (6 singers): High Society Woman 1 / Woman 1 / Farmer’s Wife 1 / female Beggar 1 /
female Voice off-stage / female Pilgrim 1 · mezzo soprano – High Society Woman 2 /
Woman 2 / Farmer’s Wife 2 / female Beggar 2 / female Pilgrim 2 · mezzo soprano – Officer 1 /
Monk 1 / Farmer 1 / Beggar 1 / Salesman 1 / Pilgrim 3 / Young Man 1 · tenor – Officer 2 /
Monk 2 / Farmer 2 / Beggar 2 / Salesman 2 / Pilgrim 4 / Young Man 2 · tenor – Officer 3 /
Monk 3 / Cynic / Pilgrim 5 / Young Man 3 · baritone – Officer 4 / Monk 4 / Farmer 3 /
Pilgrim 6 / Man · baritone
Orchestra: fl (afl, pic) · ob (ca) · 2Bbcl (1:ssax, bcl; 2:asax, Ebcl, bcl).bn (cbn) - hn · tpt · tbn -
perc. (b.d, tam-tam, gng, tub.bells (G# & B), bell plate, 4 tom-toms, 3 c.bells (large, medium.,
small ) 3 t.bl., field dr., bass pedal dr., sus.cym., sizz.cym., chinese cym., b.tree (horizontal), clash
cym., vibra., sleigh bells, maraca., vibraslap, guiro, glass wind-chimes) - hp. - 3vn · 2va · 2vc · db.
Duration: 110‘
Performance material on hire
Remarks: All seven soprano parts should be sung by one singer. The chorus singers play different
roles in all scenes.
Selected Productions
06.07.2001 King‘s Cross, London (WP)
06.10.2001 Theatre de la Monnaie, Brüssel (NEA)
Ronald Zollman · Keith Warner · John Lloyd Davies
02.08.2004 Akademie der Bildenden Künste · KlangBogen Wien 2004
Walter Kobéra · Stephan Bruckmeier · Klaus Baumeister · Dorothea Wimmer
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