"Deirdre of the Sorrows" - Chamber Opera in 2 acts
libretto by Doria A. Phelps
Instrumentation/Cast:
Cathbad: A Druid (Baritone)
Conchobar: King of Ulster (Bass)
Fergus: Warrior of Ulster (Low Bass)
Deirdre's Foster Father (Baritone)
Deirdre (Soprano)
Deirdre's Mother (Soprano)
Naoise: Son of Usnach (Tenor)
Warriors of Ulster (small 4 part male chorus)
Ardan, Anle: Naoise's Brothers (brief shouting only)
Orchestra: flute, oboe, clarinet in B-flat, bassoon, 2 horns in F, trombone, percussion, strings
Duration:
approximately 1 hour
Dates of Composition/Revision:
February 1995 - August 1996, addendum November 1996
Premier Performance:
May 11, 1997 - Finney Chapel, Oberlin, OH. Musicians of Oberlin College and Oberlin Conservatory of Music, conducted by John Goodell. Production directed by David Tarlow.
Score:
(for perusal only - not authorized for performance at this time) Full Score (w/out Addendum: "Deirdre's Lament") available on request
Vocal Rehearsal Score (includes Addendum: "Deirdre's Lament") available immediately
Parts:
available on extended notice
Recording:
Recording of excerpts (Introduction, Prologue, Interlude, Act 1: Scene 1) from original production performance (5/12/97) available on short notice.
Recording of complete original production performance (5/12/97) available on request.
Notes:
"Deirdre of the Sorrows" was begun as part of a seminar conducted by composer Param Vir in Spring of 1995, and completed during the summer of 1996. It was produced with the support of the Oberlin Conservatory Opera Theater department in the Spring semester of 1997, with an all-student crew of singers, instrumentalists, costume and set designers under the auspices of the Oberlin "ExCo" (Experimental College) program.
