Stage Works / Buehnenwerke

The Midsummer Marriage
150 mins

Opera in three acts [1947-52]

Marc, a young man of unknown parentage - tenor Jenifer, his betrothed - soprano King Fisher, Jenifer's father - baritone Bella, King Fisher's secretary - soprano Jack, Bella's boyfriend - tenor Sosostris, a clairvoyant - alto The Ancients, Priest and Priestess of the Temple -bass/mezzo soprano

Chorus of Mark's and Jenifer's friends (SATB)

Dancers attendant on the Ancients and Strephon, one of the dancers - silent roles

2 (2 piccolos) 2 2 2 - 4 2 3 0 - timpani percussion (2 players: side drum, bass drum, cymbal, triangle, gong, tubular bells) - harp celesta - strings

Text by the composer

First performance by Covent Garden Opera conducted by Sir John Pritchard and produced by Christopher West with choreography by John Cranko at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 27 January 1955

 

Vocal score ED 10778
Libretto ED 10778a
Study score ED 11158
Limited edition, numbered and signed by the composer ED 11158-01

Priam, King of Troy - bass baritone Hecuba, his wife - dramatic soprano Hector, their eldest son - baritone Andromache, Hector's wife - lyric dramatic soprano Paris, Priam's second son - boy soprano/tenor Helen, wife to Menelaus, then wife in adultery to Paris - mezzo soprano Achilles, a Greek hero - heroic tenor Patroclus, his friend - light baritone Nurse - mezzo soprano Old man - bass Young Guard - lyric tenor Hermes, a messenger of the Gods - high light tenor

Chorus of Hunters, Wedding guests, Serving Women, etc. (SATB)

2 (2 piccolos) 1 cor anglais 1 clarinet in E flat bass clarinet 1 contrabassoon - 4 4 2 1 - timpani percussion (3 players: snare drum, bass drum, cymbal, wood block, tambourine, triangle, tam-tam, xylophone - harp piano (celesta) guitar - strings (minimum players: 6 4 4 2)

Text by the composer

Written for the Koussevitsky Foundation in memory of Natalie Koussevitsky. First performance by Covent Garden Opera conducted by Sir John Pritchard and produced by Sam Wanamaker at the Coventry Cathedral Festival, 29 May 1962.

Vocal score ED 10787
Libretto ED 10787a

Faber, a civil engineer aged about 35 - robust baritone Thea, his wife; a gardener - dramatic mezzo Flora, their ward, an adolescent girl - light high soprano Dennis, Thea's sister; a dedicated Freedom-fighter - dramatic soprano Mel, a negro writer in his late twenties - lyric bass baritone Dov, his white friend; a musician - lyric tenor Mangus, an analyst - high tenor baritone

2 (2 piccolos) 1 cor anglais clarinet in E flat 2 (2: bass clarinet) 1 contrabassoon - 4 4 2 1 - timpani percussion (3 players: side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, jazz kit,cymbal, suspended cymbal, wood blocks, temple blocks, tambourine, castanets, whip, metal bar or heavy triangle, tam-tam, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel, claves, small rattle) - harp, celesta piano, electric guitar/electric harpsichord - strings

Reduced version:

1 (piccolo) 1 (cor anglais) 1 (clarinet in E flat, bass clarinet) 1 (contrabassoon) - 3 2 2 0 - percussion (2 players: timpani, tenor drum, jazz kit, cymbal, temple blocks, tambourine, castanets, metal bar or heavy triangle, tam-tam, vibraphone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, claves, rattle)- harp piano (celesta) electric guitar - strings: 3 violins (3: viola) viola cello double bass

Text by the composer

Commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. First performance conducted by Sir Colin Davis and produced by Sir Peter Hall at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 2 December 1970

Vocal score ED 11075
Libretto ED 11075a

Lev, a 50 year old teacher - bass Nadia, his wife - lyric soprano Yuri, their son - baritone Gayle, Yuri's present native-born white girl friend - dramatic soprano Hannah, Gayle's black friend - rich mezzo Olympion, Hannah's boyfriend - tenor Luke, a young intern at Hannah's hospital - tenor Lieutenant - baritone Astron, a psychedelic messenger - lyric mezzo and high tenor (or counter tenor)

Chorus of various people (SATB)

2 (2 piccolos) 2 cor anglais 2 (clarinet in E flat)bass clarinet 2 contrabassoon - 4 2 3 1 - timpani percussion (7 players: side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, slit drum, 5 tuned drums, jazz kit, timbales, bongos, cymbal, suspended cymbal, wood blocks, temple blocks, castanets, whip, triangle, large triangle, sleigh bells, flexatone, tam-tam, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, claves, guiro, glass chimes, bamboo wind chimes, metal bar, wind machine) - harp piano celesta electric organ electric guitar bass guitar - strings

Text by the composer

Commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. First performance conducted by Sir Colin Davis and produced by Sam Wanamaker with choreography by Walter Raines at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 7 July 1977

Vocal score ED 11253
Libretto ED 11253a

Jo Ann, a trainee children's doctor - lyric soprano Donny, her young brother - light baritone Nan, their foster mother - dramatic mezzo Merlin, the computer wizard - dramatic baritone Pelegrin, the space pilot - lyric tenor Regan, their boss - dramatic soprano The Presenter - microphoned male singer

Chorus of dancers and singers

3 (3 piccolos) 2 cor anglais 1 bass clarinet 3 saxophones 1 contrabassoon - 4 2 3 1 - percussion (side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, jazz kit, slit drum, 2 steel drums (high/low), brake drum, 5 tom-toms, cymbal, suspended cymbal, hi-hat, hand cymbals played with mallet/steel bar, 2 wood blocks, whip, large triangle, large tam-tam, small tam-tam, cow bells, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, claves, guiro) - harp electric guitar bass guitar - strings (minimum players: 4 4 4 4 2) - electronic tape - sampler keyboard

Text by the composer

Co-commissioned by Houston Grand Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the British Broadcasting Corporation. First performances: Houston Grand Opera conducted by John De Main and directed by Sir Peter Hall with choreography by Bill T. Jones, 27 October 1989

Glyndebourne Festival Opera conducted by Andrew Davis and directed by Sir Peter Hall with choreography by Bill T. Jones, 1 July 1990

BBC television film of the opera co-directed by Dennis Marks and Bill T. Jones, broadcast on BBC 2, 21 September 1991

Vocal score ED 12333
Libretto ED 12333-01