Conductor’s score
THE CONVERT Praying to whom?
opera in 2 acts on a libretto by Krystian Lada after the novel of Stefan Hertmans (2021) (NMO14900A Study score / ISMN 979-0-065-1687-8) (NMO14900B Conductor’s score / ISMN 979-0-065-15868-5) (NMO14900C Vocal score / ISMN 979-0-065-16869-2) (NMO14900D Choir score / ISMN 979-0-065-16870-8) (NMO14900E Orchestral parts/ ISMN 979-0-065-16871-5)
Score and parts published by Norsk Musikforlag A/S, Norway
Tel 00-47-23 00 20 10 FAX 00-47-22 42 44 35 E-mail: order@musikforlaget.no
Copyright: © 2022 by Wim Henderickx & Norsk Musikforlag A/S, Norway
Music Engraving: Wim Henderickx & Diederik Glorieux Cover design/calligraphy: Bea Steylaerts Printed by: Norsk Musikforlag A/S, Oslo. www.musikkforlagene.no
THE CONVERT (Praying to whom?)
opera in 2 acts on a libretto by Krystian Lada and based on the novel De bekeerlinge by Stefan Hertmans composed in 2019-2021, commissioned by Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Muziektheater Transparant, Opéra de Rouen Normandie and with the financial support of the Flemish Government
Dedicated to my wife Bea and my children Ruben, Milan and Lennart
First performance on May 10th, 2022 at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Antwerp, Belgium by the singers (7 soloists) Lore Binon, Vincenzo Neri, Amel Brahim-Djelloul, Françoise Atlan, Daniel Arnaldos, Luvuyo Mbundu and Guido Jentjens, mixed choir, small children’s choir and symphony orchestra of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, city choir Madame Fortuna, conductor Koen Kessels and direction, scenography and costume design Hans Op de Beeck
The work contains 2 acts
With special thanks to Guy Coolen, Jan Vandenhouwe and my musical assistant Diederik Glorieux
The score is written in C
Duration: ca. 2h30 minutes
Orchestral score, vocal scores, choir scores and instrumental parts are available on hire from Norsk Musikforlag A/S, additional info can be found at www.wimhenderickx.com
CHARACTERS
VIGDIS Soprano
DAVID, her lover / SHIPOWNER / EMBRIACHI / COMMANDER Baritone
CHAPERON / AGATHA / SECOND DESERT WOMAN Soprano
LUTGARDIS, her mother / FAKE MESSIAH / FIRST DESERT WOMAN / INNKEEPER Mezzo-soprano
CELEBRANT / URBANUS / PRIEST / SECOND ARMOURED MAN Tenor
RABBI OBADIAH Baritone
GUDBRANDR, her father / SWINDLER / RABBI TODROS / RAYMOND / FIRST ARMOURED MAN Bass
VIGDIS IN HER DREAMS
Dancer
MIXED CHOIR, CHILDREN’S CHOIR & CITY CHOIR
3 solo children (from the children’s choir)
Knight 1 (baritone) and Knight 2 (tenor), soloists from the mixed choir
ORCHESTRA
2 Flutes (2nd also alto flute and piccolo)
2 Oboes (2nd also English horn)
2 Clarinets in Bb
Bass clarinet in Bb (also contrabass clarinet in Bb )
2 Bassoons (2nd also contrabassoon)
4 Horns in F (also normal mute)
3 Trumpets (also normal mute, plunger, harmon mute)
3 Trombones (also normal mute, plunger, harmon mute)
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (3 players)
Harp
Duduk
Ud Qanun
Strings, preferably 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
Electronics
NOTES FOR THE PERCUSSION PLAYERS
Timpani (5), also 2 cymbals (l, M), temple bell (‘E’), metal chimes (S)
Percussion 1: vibraphone, Glockenspiel, tuned gongs (‘Bb’, ’D’, ’Eb’, ‘E’), tuned glasses (‘B’), 5 roto-toms, snare drum (L), 3 bongos, daf (frame drum with jingles), 3 cymbals (L, M, S), sistrum, 5 metal blocks, 2 Peking gongs, thunder sheet (S), 2 shakers (S), rattle, sandpaper blocks, African slit drum, glass chimes, ocean drum
Percussion 2: marimba, crotales, snare drum (S), 3 congas, 2 tambourines (L, S), tamtam (M), 3 triangles (L, M, S), 3 cymbals (L, M, S), 2 finger cymbals, sistrum, metal chimes (L), waterphone, flexatone, 2 shakers (L), sandpaper blocks, temple block (L)
Percussion 3: tubular bells, temple bell (‘A’), tuned glasses (‘E’), tuned gong (‘E’) or tubular bell, bass drum (l), frame drum, 3 toms, lion’s roar (cuica), field drum, tambourine (S), tamtam (L), 2 triangles (M, S), 2 finger cymbals, 3 cymbals (L, M, S), bell tree, Chinese cymbal (L), sizzle cymbal (M), thunder sheet (M), Indian bells (S), spring coil, metal chimes (S), claves
ELECTRONICS
The programming patch for the Sampler was developed in SuperCollider by Jorrit Tamminga and is available from Norsk Musikforlag A/S, Oslo Technical Rider on demand Henderickx - The