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Ausrine Stundyte as Cio-Cio-San, Elizabeth Janes as Butterfly’s child and Sarah Larsen as Suzuki in Seattle Opera's production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Photo by Elise Bakketun.
North American Works Directory Listing
The Harpies
Composer: Marc Blitzstein
Librettist: Marc Blitzstein
Other Artistic Personnel: Hugh Ross (Conductor)
Work Web Site: http://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails.asp?musicID=3899
Premiere Date: May 25, 1953
Description: This operatic spoof of Greek mythology - and of musical neo-classicism - is also intended as a Depression-era allegory. Set in ancient Thrace, the work has eight characters, balanced between tenor and soprano principals, a group of three female Harpies, and three male Argonauts. At the center is Phineus, a sightless oracle, who attempts to enjoy his dinner but is constantly attacked by the Harpies. Not only do they steal his food, they emit a foul odour as well. Jason appears on the scene with the Argonauts, and he promises to fight off the Harpies if Phineus will guarantee that the gods will continue to favor them. As soon as the Harpies are defeated Iris appears as a messenger of the gods. She promises Phineus that he will always be safe from the Harpies, and she dispatches them to experience various tortures. The prophet can now eat his meal in peace.
Character List (Major): PHINNEUS, a blind, old oracle (t)
AELLO, a Harpie (s)
OCYPETE, a Harpie (mz)
CELANEO, a Harpie (contralto)
ZETES, an Argonaut (t)
CALAIS, Argonaut (bar)
JASON, an Argonaut (b)
IRIS, a Messenger (s)
Reviews: New York Times, Stephen Holden, 9/26/1988; The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 73, No. 4 (1989), pp. 445-475, Carol J. Oja; American Music, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Winter, 1985), pp. 413-428, John D. Shout;
Length: 00:16
Total Acts: 1
Orchestration: 1 fl(=picc), 1 cl(=Ebcl), 1 bsn - 1 hrn, 1 tpt, 1 tbn, - pft - db
Contact: Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.
Address: 229 W 28th Street, Floor 11
New York, NY 10001
E-mail Address: composers.us@boosey.com
Phone: 212-358-5300
Composer Web Site: http://www.marcblitzstein.com/
Publisher Web Site: http://www.boosey.com

Spring 2013 Magazine Issue
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  • Of One: The Quest for Asian Fusion in the Opera House
  • Vancouver: Where Nature Nurtures Art
  • Inheriting the Wind
  • My First Time
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