Barab, Seymour

A Game of Chance (1956)

Duration: 35 minutes
Comic opera in one act

Libretto by Evelyn Manacher Draper after Ryerson/Clements' 'All on a Summer's Day' (E)

Scoring
lyrS,S,M,BBar 1.1.1.1-1.1.1.0-timp.perc(1):hi-hat/cyms/susp.cym/SD/t.bells/tgl- harp-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
1/11/1957
Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
Company: Augustana College Opera Workshop

Roles

FIRST KNITTER	Lyric Soprano
SECOND KNITTER	Soprano
THIRD KNITTER	Soprano
THE REPRESENTATIVE	Bass Baritone

Time and Place
Any time period, a garden with a bench

Synopsis
Set in a garden with a bench, a Representative, the eternal messenger of fate, brings to each of three young women her dearest wish: One would like to be wealthy; one would like to be famous; and one would like to have a lover in her life.  Each discovers she has not asked for enough: the rich woman misses real friends; the famous author yearns for love; and the third young woman finds marriage a tedious chore.  Even the Representative is dissatisfied with his life: He needs an assistant to help him with his tough job.  The moral of this comic opera:  We all want too much or too little.

Moods
Comic

Subjects
Ethics, Magic/Mystery