This mini-opera explores the stages of a relationship, and is richly varied in tone and mood.

Opus No : 73

Category : Opera

Year : 1996

Duration : 35'00

Libretto: Louise Petherbridge, using poems by Hone Tuwhare and Cilla McQueen

Commissioned by : Louise Petherbridge

Instrumentation: chamber opera for 3 singers,(soprano, alto, baritone) piano, double bass, percussion (1 player on Tam tam, Drum Kit, including suspended cymbals (large and small), snare drum, tom toms, bass drum (with foot action), Bass drum (stand alone), Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Tambourine (for double bass player!), Triangle, Wood block

Level : 3 - for professional and semi-professional musicians

Available from the composer

Recording information

Anthony Ritchie, from live performances, Otago Arts Festival, 2000

Programme Note

Chamber opera by Anthony Ritchie

Texts by Cilla McQueen and Hone Tuwhare

Arranged into a libretto by Louise Petherbridge

Commissioned by Louise Petherbridge with funding from Creative NZ.

Characters:
Circus Woman (contralto)
Woman (soprano)
Man (baritone)

Instruments:
Piano (doubling eletronic keyboard)
Percussion (one player, including drum kit)
Double Bass (doubling bass guitar and tambourine)

Texts:
The Trapeze Artists - Cilla McQueen
Rapunzel - Cilla McQueen
Thine Own Hands have Fashioned - Hone Tuwhare
Wild Sweets - Cilla McQueen
Bad Bananas - Cilla McQueen
Tangi - Hone Tuwhare
Prelude? - Hone Tuwhare
Where Shall I Wander- Hone Tuwhare
The Old Place - Hone Tuwhare

These settings are to be performed without a break. Organisation of texts, creation of characters, stage directions etc are by Louise Petherbridge, the director of the opera.

Duration: 35 minutes approximately