Kevin Puts "Elizabeth Cree"

Page 1


Kevin Puts

Elizabeth Cree

a chamber opera in one act

(2017)

the

Piano/Vocal Score
Libretto by Mark Campbell
based on
novel The Trial of Elizabeth Cree by Peter Ackroyd

© 2017 by UMP Classics & Screen (BMI) International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. RNY 1384/03

ISMN 979-0-073-00127-1

Warning : Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law, and subject to criminal prosecution.

INSTRUMENTATION

Flute (doubling Piccolo)

Oboe

Clarinet in Bb (Eb Clarinet)

Bassoon (doubling Contrabassoon)

Horn in F

Trumpet in C Bass Trombone

Percussion (2 players):

Piano (doubling Synthesizer)

Harp

2 Violins

Viola

Violoncello Contrabass

Commissioned by Opera Philadelphia and Chicago Opera Theatre

“Through art and artifice, the savage heart is finally redeemed.” — On Art and Artifice, Oscar Wilde “Dans le coeur de chaque femme bat le cœur d’un homme.” — Désirs d’une Femme, Honoré de Balzac

“Inside every riff lives another riff.” — Louis Armstrong

SET

A raised, panoramic platform that will alternately and distinctly represent the musical hall stage and dressing rooms, a scaffold for hanging, the shadow play settings for the murders recorded and enacted in John Cree’s diaries, a courtroom, London street scenes and the Cree drawing room. All of the scenes on this platform will be delineated with curtains on a long rod that can be moved to cordon off specific playing areas.

In addition, portable set pieces will also be places as needed in the space in front of the wide platform: an escritoire for John Cree, a long table for the library room, a desk for Inspector Kildare, etc. Except for the drawing room scenes, the set should be sparse and prison-like, without a whiff of Victoriana.

CAST

Elizabeth Cree .......................................................Mezzo-soprano

John Cree ................................................................Baritone

Dan Leno ..................................................................Tenor

Aveline Mortimer, Witness #1 ................................................Soprano

Uncle, Witness #9 ............................................................Bass

Inspector Kildare, Witness #7 ................................................Baritone

Doris, Witness #3 ....................................................Mezzo-soprano

Little Victor Farrell, Witness #4 .................................................Tenor

Mr. Greatorex/George Gissing/Etcher, Witness #6 .................................Baritone

Mr. Lister/Karl Marx/Voicever (Scene 1 and 27), Witness #8 .....................Bass baritone

Priest/Librarian, Witness #5 ....................................................Tenor

Jane Quig, Annie the Serving Girl, Witness #2.

Time

1. Not a straight linear narrative; the story jumps around from:

2. the trial and hanging of Elizabeth Cree (September 1880 to April 1881);

.Mezzo-soprano

3. Elizabeth Cree’s past as a music hall performer and, later, the wife of John Cree (1878-1880);

4. entries in John Cree’s dairy about the murders he commits (September 1880);

5. Inspector Kildare’s attempts at finding the murderer (September 1880); and

6. the premiere of the play, The Crees of Misery Junction (May 1881)

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.