|
 |
|
North American Works Directory Listing
| Composer: |
Carlisle Floyd
|
| Composer Bio: |
Composer, librettist, pianist, and teacher Carlisle Floyd has written operas for many of America’s cherished stories, basing much of his subject matter on Southern themes. Born in the Southern Bible Belt of Latta, South Carolina, he grew up in the thick of traveling preachers, revival meetings, and a close knit religious community, though at a young age was aware of that world’s controversial and hypocritical nature. Floyd’s primary teacher was pianist Ernst Bacon whom he followed from South Carolina to Syracuse University in New York where he earned a Bachelor and a Master of Music. He immediately joined the piano faculty of Florida State University where he began exploring an interest in composition, writing both the libretti and the music for operas with a distinctly American voice. He achieved national recognition with Susanna, which premiered at Florida State University in 1955.
Today Carlisle Floyd’s operas are performed throughout America and Europe and Susanna and Of Mice and Men have become standard repertoire. Floyd was one of eight recipients of the National Medal of Arts in 2004. He is also the winner of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Citation of Merit from the National Association of American Conductors and Composers and the National Opera Institute’s Award for Service to American Opera. In 2008, Floyd was the only composer to be included in the inaugural National Endowment for the Arts Opera Honors.
|
| Librettist: |
Carlisle Floyd
|
| Other Artistic Personnel: |
John DeMain (Conductor)
Harold Prince (Director)
|
| Original Cast: |
Timothy Nolen (Willie Stark)
Jan Curtis (Sadie Burke)
Alan Kays (Jack Burden)
Lowell Thomas (Radio Commentator)
Graydon Vaught (Reporter)
David Vosburgh (Tiny Duffy)
Don Garrard (Judge Burden)
Julia Conwell (Anne Stanton)
Lisa de la Reza (Lucy Stark)
Lynn Griebling (Mrs. Stark)
|
| Premiere Date: |
April 24, 1981
|
| Producing Company: |
Houston Grand Opera
|
| Description: |
Set in 1935, in a state capital in the deep south, the opera condenses the novel into a span of ten days, tracing events leading up to the impeachment proceedings of the governor, Willie Stark (mirrored after Huey Long). Stark, a populist governor with a flair for demagoguery, will do almost anything to fend off his political enemies. Judge Burden, the father of one of Stark's idealistic and supportive aides, Jack, plans to come out publicly in favor of impeachment. Stark also begins having a furtive affair with Anne Stanton, Jack's fiance. Stark rallies popular support for himself and soon finds evidence of past misconduct on the Judge's part. Jack confronts his father, who admits the charges of past bribery. Jack gives his father a choice: either withdraw his support of impeachment or have an incriminating letter published. The Judge, backed into a corner and all alone, shoots himself. Several days later, Jack, distraught over his father's death, is told that Stark and Anne are planning to marry. Stunned by this news, the aide attends a victory speech given by the governor, steps out of the crowd, and mortally wounds Willie. Jack is instantly killed in retaliation.
|
| Character List (Major): |
WILLIE STARK, Governor (bar)
ANNE STANTON (s)
JUDGE COURTNEY BURDEN (b-bar)
SADIE BURKE, Stark's administrative assistant (mz)
HUGH, another Senator (speaking role or Baritone)
SUGAR BOY, bodyguard to Willie Stark (t)
"TINY" DUFFY, Lieutenant-Governor (t)
JACK BURDEN, aide to Willie Stark (t)
JEFF, a Senator (t)
|
| Character List (Minor): |
MRS. STARK, Willie Stark's mother (s)
LUCY, Willie Stark's daughter (s)
GEORGE WILLIAM, Judge Burden's old black butler (speaking role)
MAYOR (speaking role)
Radio Announcer (spoken and pre-recorded)
Reporter (speaking role)
|
| Reviews: |
Opera Canada, Fall 1981, p. 36; Opera, 9-81, p. 939; Opera News, 8-81, p. 30; Opera Journal, 9-81, p. 39; Musical America, 2-82, p. 15; Opera News, 1-18-86, p. 39; Opera, 2-86, p. 186; The New York Times, Peter G. Davis, 1-15-81; The New Yorker, Andrew Porter, 4-5-82; Newsweek, 5-11-81; The New York Times, Donal Henahan, 4-27-81; The New York Times, John Duka, 9-27-81; The New York Times, John J. O'Connor, 9-28-81;
|
|
|
|
| Chorus: |
Chorus
|
| Orchestration: |
2 fl(II=picc), 2 ob(II=corA), 2 cl(II=bcl), 2 bsn - 2 hrn, 2 tpt, 2 tbn, 1 tba - timp, perc(3):xyl/glsp/vib/SD/TD/BD/crash cyms/susp.cym/gong/ant.cym/bell tree/tamb/anvil/maracas/tpl, bl - harp - cel - strings
|
| Ballet/Dance: |
Mime
|
| Musical Style: |
Traditional means, such as leitmotif, singspiel, and traditional arias with connective recitative are incorporated with strong folk and jazz elements into a basically lyrical framework.
|
|
| Contact: |
Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.
|
| Address: |
229 W 28th Street, Floor 11
New York, NY 10001
|
| Phone: |
212-358-5300
|
Schedule of Performances Listings
Willie Stark
( Floyd)
Friday, March 23, 2007 - Louisiana State University Opera
|
|
What is OPERAAmerica.org?
Spring 2013 Magazine Issue
- Letter from the President/CEO
- Of One: The Quest for Asian Fusion in the Opera House
- Vancouver: Where Nature Nurtures Art
- Inheriting the Wind
- My First Time
|
|
|
|
From Airport:
The easiest way to reach the OPERA America offices is to get a cab at the airport. Cost is $40-45 (not including tip).
-
JFK -
Take the AirTrain ($5 - approx. 15 minutes) to the Jamaica Street Station and transfer to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR).
Take the LIRR to Penn Station ($12 - approx. 35 minutes). See Penn Station directions below.
-
LaGuardia -
Take the M60 Bus to the Hoyt Ave/31st Street. Get on the
 or  Train and take that to 42nd/Times Square Station.
Follow the Times Square Station directions below.
-
Newark - Take the New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station ($15 - approx. 45 min). See
the Penn Station Directions below.
From Penn Station/Madison Square Garden:
Leave the station through the 7th Avenue/33rd Street exit and walk south for four blocks. The building is on the right hand side.
From Grand Central Station:
Take the  Train to the 42nd/Times Square station and transfer to the  Train.
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
From 42nd Street/Times Square:
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
For more detailed directions, most up-to-date pricing or to specify a different starting location, please visit the MTA Web site.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|