Act II - Sc 5-9 Rental Library
WUORINEN Haroun and the Sea of Stories Opera in Two Acts
Full score Act II Scenes 5-9
EP 67890
CHARLES WUORINEN
Haroun and the Sea of Stories Opera in Two Acts
Libretto by James Fenton Based on the novel by Salman Rushdie
Orchestral Score
ACT TWO Scenes 5-9
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HAROUN AND THE SEA OF STORIES An Opera by Charles Wuorinen Based on the Novel by Salman Rushdie Libretto adapted by James Fenton In a make-believe world, based loosely on Bombay and Kashmir, the story of Haroun is a tale of a fight between the free imagination and the powers that oppose it. Haroun’s father, Rashid, the Shah of Blah, is a professional and gifted story-teller, a popular figure much in demand at public events. Feeling neglected, his wife is persuaded to leave him and run away with a neighbour. After this, Rashid loses confidence in his powers of storytelling, haunted by his son’s question: “What’s the use of stories that aren’t even there?” Rashid is due to speak at a political rally to be held by the sinister politician, Snooty Buttoo. He is told that if he does not come up with his usual fund of tales, his tongue will be cut out. As Rashid despairs, Haroun determines to rescue his father’s talent – a project which learns that the Ocean of the Sea of Stories, the source of all stories, is being polluted by the enemies of all stories, the sinister Khattam-Shud. In a series of brilliantly imagined adventures, Haroun succeeds in defeating the powers of darkness, and restoring happiness to his family and to the city where he lives. Salman Rushdie’s children’s book, written in the aftermath of the fatwa, has an effervescent style which is full of rhymes and wordplay. The libretto stays very close to the spirit of the original, conjuring up a fantasy world in which, nonetheless, one never entirely loses sight of harsh political reality and the great issues of freedom of speech and imagination. James Fenton, 1998
PERSONAE HAROUN Khalifa, son to Rashid, soprano. RASHID Khalifa, story-teller, baritone. SOROYA, mother to Haroun, mezzo-soprano Mr. SENGUPTA, a measly weasely clerk, and later KHATTAMSHUD, the prine of silence, tenor ONEETA, wife to Mr. Sengupta, and then PRINCESS, and later PINCESS BATCHEAT, alto. BUTT the bus-driver, and later the mechanical Hoopoe, bass. SNOOTY BUTTOO, politician, tenor. IFF the water genie, tenor. BAGHA and GOOPY, pentimaw fish, high tenors. MALI, a gardener, deep bass. PRINCE BOLO, beloved of Batcheat, tenor. GENERAL KITAB, a general, baritone. THE KING, a king, bass. Men in mustachios and yellow check pants, announcer, voice, etc. CHORUS
INSTRUMENTS Picc.-2-2-2-B.Cl.-2-Cbn. 4-2-2-1 Harp, Piano 3 Percussion Timpani Strings The score is in C; all instruments sound as written.
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