Opera
Opera Walton 30 ed. Stuart Hutchinson Troilus and Cressida Vocal and instrumental scores on hire 9780193386051 3 fl (III+picc + alto fl), 2 ob, ca, 2 cl, bcl, 3 bsn (III+cbn), 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tba, timp, 4–5 perc, 2 hp, cel, str off stage: hn, 4 tpt, perc Calkas, High Priest of Pallas bass Antenor, Captain of Trojan Spears baritone Troilus, Prince of Troy tenor Pandarus, brother of Calkas tenor Cressida, daughter of Calkas soprano Evadne, servant of Cressida mezzo-soprano Horaste friend of Pandarus baritone Diomede, Prince of Argus baritone Woman’s Voice spoken Chorus (priests, soldiers, Trojans) An opera in three acts, Troilus and Cressida premiered at the Royal Opera House, London, in 1954. With libretto written by Christopher Hassall based on poetry by Geoffrey Chaucer, it is set in the tenth year of the Trojan War and opens before the Temple of Pallas. Calkas declares that the oracle at Delphi has foretold the defeat of Troy, and he defects to the Greeks. Meanwhile, Troilus proclaims his love to Cressida, who in return gives him a red scarf as a commitment of trust, and eventually love. After Troilus and Cressida spend a romantic evening together, Greek soldiers appear at the house stating that an exchange of prisoners has been arranged. Antenor, a Trojan warrior, will be returned to Troy, but Cressida must go to the Greeks. The third act begins at the Greek camp ten weeks later. Imprisoned, Cressida despairs that she has heard nothing from Troilus, whose messages are being intercepted by the Greeks. Calkas instructs Cressida to accept Diomede as her husband. She reluctantly agrees and gives him the red scarf as a token of her pledge. Troilus, who has arranged a ransom for Cressida, sees Diomede with the red scarf and challenges him. They fight, and as Troilus is about to overpower Diomede, Calkas stabs Troilus in the back. He dies in Cressida’s arms. Left alone, Cressida hides Troilus’ sword, and as the Greeks come to take her away, she pledges her loyalty to Troilus one last time – and stabs herself. A German translation by Ernst Roth and an Italian translation by Eugenio Montale is available in the vocal score. 135 minutes ed. John Gibbons Troilus and Cressida Reduced version Vocal and instrumental scores on hire 9780193360006 2 fl (II+picc), 2 ob (II+ca), 2 cl (II+bcl), 2 bsn (II+cbn), 3 hn, 2 tpt, 2 tbn, tba, timp, 3 perc (sd, td, tamb, tri, cym, sus cym, gong, bd, glock, xylo, vibr, tub bell), cel, hp, str 135 minutes "...powerfully presented as an opera for the central repertory, traditional in its red-blooded treatment of a big classical subject, with the composer revelling in big, tonal melodies presented with many frissonmaking modulations." - Gramaphone -
Zhou Long Madame White Snake Vocal and instrumental scores on hire 9780193372771 Study score 9780193411371 Vocal score 9780193412835 Chinese fl, fl (+picc), ob, 2 cl (II+bcl), 2 bsn (II+cbsn), 2 hn, 2 tpt, btbn, timp, 2 perc, hp, erhu, str Madame White Snake soprano Xiao Qing male soprano Xu Xian tenor Abbot (Fahai) of the Golden Mountain Monastery bass Chorus Children’s Choir This opera in four acts is based on an ancient Chinese myth about a snake-shaped spirit that attains human form to experience love. The English libretto by Cerise Lim Jacobs sensitively adapts the story for modern audiences, and Zhou Long’s music uses both Western and Chinese sounds to create a pioneering crosscultural opera. Zhou Long was awarded the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Music for Madame White Snake, and the Pulitzer jury described the work as ‘a deeply expressive opera that draws on a Chinese folk tale to blend the musical traditions of the East and the West’. 100 minutes Madame White Snake - Opera Boston, 2016 James Matthew Daniel Opera Zhou Long 31
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