Miss Havisham's Fireis anoperain 2 acts by composerDominick Argentowith an English languagelibrettobyJohn Olon-Scrymgeour.The work is loosely based onCharles Dickens' 1861 novelGreat Expectations,and centers on an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death ofAurelia Havisham.Commissioned by theNew York City Opera,the work premiered on March 22, 1979, at theNew York State Theaterat theLincoln Center for the Performing Artsin Manhattan.[1]
Miss Havisham's Firewas initially intended to be a farewell vehicle for sopranoBeverly Sills,but she pulled out of the project due to illness and was replaced byRita Shane.The opera received negative to mixed reviews in the press at its premiere and was not mounted again for more than 20 years. Argento revised it into a one-actmonodramaentitledMiss Havisham's Wedding NightwhichMinnesota Operapremiered on May 1, 1981, at theTyrone Guthrie Theaterin Minneapolis, conducted byPhilip Brunelle.[2]It was performed under the baton ofGil RoseatCarnegie Hallon November 9, 2017, in a concert by New York City Opera celebrating the composer's 90th birthday.[3]
In 2001 theOpera Theatre of Saint Louisrevived the work in a new version by Argento that shortened the opera by more than an hour and made improvements to the work's dramatic structure. This production received a much more positive response from the press.[4][5]
Roles
editRole | Voice type | Premiere cast, 22 March 1979[1] (Conductor:Julius Rudel) |
---|---|---|
Aurelia Havisham,an elderly recluse | soprano | Rita Shane |
Estella Drummle,as a woman of 1859–60 | mezzo-soprano | Susanne Marsee |
Phillip Pirrip,as a man of 1859–60 | baritone | Alan Titus |
Grace-Helen Broome,as the former governess to Miss Havisham | mezzo-soprano | Elaine Bonazzi |
Old Orlick,caretaker at Satis House | bass | Paul Ukena |
Young Aurelia Havisham | soprano | Gianna Rolandi |
Young Estella Drummle,adopted daughter of Miss Havisham | treble | Lorna Wallach |
Young Phillip Pirrip (Pip),as a poor boy of 1846–8 | boy soprano | Robert Sapolsky |
Young Grace-Helen Broome,governess to Miss Havisham | soprano | Martha Sheil |
Young Orlick | bass | James Brewer |
Jaggers,Miss Havisham's solicitor | bass | Richard Cross |
Bentley Drummle,man about town | tenor | John Lankston |
The Examiner,officiating at the inquest | bass-baritone | Ralph Bassett |
Sarah Pocket,relative of Miss Havisham | contralto | RoseMarie Freni |
Camilla Pocket,relative of Miss Havisham | soprano | Martha Thigpen |
Raymond Pocket,relative of Miss Havisham | tenor | Jonathan Green |
Pumblechook,Uncle to Pip | spoken role | William Ledbetter |
First maid | silent role | Gwenlynn Little |
Second maid | silent role | Eunice Hill |
Chorus:guests at the Assembly Ball and servants |
References
edit- ^abHarold C. Schonberg(March 23, 1979)."City Opera:Miss Havisham"(PDF).The New York Times.p. 45.
- ^Miss Havisham's Wedding Night,Boosey & Hawkes
- ^"Dominick Argento at 90 Celebration at Carnegie Hall",Boosey & Hawkes, August 2017
- ^John von Rhein (July 8, 2001)."St. Louis rediscovers an operatic stepchild".Chicago Tribune.
- ^William R. Braun (June 2001)."RekindlingMiss Havisham's Fire".Opera News.