2019 Festival Roles

    Festival: VOICES FROM THE TOWER:
    music by female composers

    MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

    1)  La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina
    Music by Francesca Caccini
    libretto by Ferdinando Saracinelli, based on Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso
    1625, first opera by a woman, possibly first opera performed outside Italy
    May be augmented into a slightly longer evening by adding a “prelude” or “intermezzo” of other works by other early Baroque female composers, including Barbara Strozzi.

    Music is similar to Monteverdi.  Baroque ensemble: continuo to include 2 theorbos and harpsichord (or 2 harpsichords and 1 theorbo), plus cello; joined by two violins (and possibly viola) for the ritornelli sections, plus recorders.

    This opera will be double-cast with each receiving 3 performances. Singers in secondary roles will double as ensemble.

    PRINCIPAL ROLES (double-cast):
    Ruggiero: tenor or high baritone
    Alcina: soprano
    Melissa: mezzo soprano or contralto

    SECONDARY (single-cast with “swing” covers; includes some ensemble singing):
    WOMEN:
    First water deity (soprano, Prologue only)
    Second Water deity (soprano, Prologue only)
    Sirena (soprano, extended solo song requiring light and agile voice); may be combined with:
    First Damigella (soprano, solo singing and as part of a trio)
    Nunzia (soprano, expressive voice and good acting; has a long narration); may be combined with:
    Second Damigella (soprano, solo singing and also as part of a trio)
    Third Damigella and Female Monster (mezzo soprano, solo singing and also part of the trio)
    Female Plant and Formerly Enchanted Lady (soprano, requires a ‘sombre’ voice)

    MEN:
    Neptune (tenor or high baritone, Prologue only but substantial)
    River God (tenor, Prologue only)
    Third water deity (tenor, Prologue only)
    Pastore: (tenor, comic strophic song; could be combined with either of the tenor Prologue roles)
    Male Plant (tenor, requires a “somber” color; similar music to the Female Plant; could be combined with either of the tenor Prologue roles)
    Astolfo (tenor, essentially an ensemble role, with just a few solo lines)
    Male Monster (bass, essentially an ensemble part with a very brief solo turn)

    2)  Princess Maleine (2019, World Premiere)
    Music by Whitney George
    Libretto in English by Brittany Goodwin, after the play in French by Maurice Maeterlinck

    PRINCIPAL ROLES (single-cast with covers):
    Principal roles (but not covers) have been cast with dell’Arte alumni for the purposes of early workshopping of the commission material.

    KING HJALMAR of Ysselmonde                                         bass
    PRINCE HJALMAR, son of King Hjalmar                           tenor
    QUEEN ANNE, of Jutland                                                    full lyric mezzo
    PRINCESS MALEINE, daughter of Marcellus and Godelive           lyric coloratura soprano
    MALEINE’S LADY-IN-WAITING or MAID (needs a name)         mezzo soprano

    SECONDARY ROLES (single-cast; covers from ensemble)

    PRINCESS UGLYANE, daughter of Queen Anne               TBD
    ANGUS, ami du prince HJALMAR                                      baritone

    ENSEMBLE CAST PLAYS ALL REMAINING ROLES (3 – 4 sopranos, 3 – 4 mezzos, 0 – 1 countertenor, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass):  Queen Godelive, Little Allan (pants role), a beggar (of 3), an old peasant (1/2), cooks, servants, 7 Beguines, ladies-in-waiting, King Marcellus, Stephano and Vanox (officers), a Chamberlain, a Doctor, a fool, two beggars (of 3), an old peasant (1/2), lords.

    3)  SCENES PROGRAM:  “Scenes from the Tower”

    Cendrillon – (1904) Pauline Viardot

    Le Baron de Pictordu  baritone
    Marie, called Cendrillon (Cinderella), daughter of Pictordu soprano
    Armelinde, another daughter of Pictordu       mezzo-soprano
    Maguelonne, another daughter of Pictordu    soprano
    La Fée (Fairy Godmother)      soprano
    Le Prince Charmant    tenor
    Le Comte Barigoule    tenor
    Ball guests, ladies, royal footmen      chorus  (singers from the other scenes)

    PLUS: scene(s) from Mary, Queen of Scots by Thea Musgrave, Mrs. President by Victoria Bond, and others.

    4) SONGS PROGRAM
    Tower Songs: song repertoire written by women and/or inspired by the lives and works of Lili and Nadia Boulanger and their contemporaries.  May include premieres of songs by female composers writing on the nominal theme of the festival (TBD).  French song settings by NYC composer Ellen Mandell