Schwartz, Stephen

Seance on a Wet Afternoon (2010)

Dauer: 120 Minuten
Opera in 2 Acts

Libretto by Stephen Schwartz

Besetzung
2(I=picc, II=picc, afl).2(II=corA).3(III=bcl, bsax).2(II=ctrbssn)-2.2.2.1-timp-perc(3)-2harps-kbrd(=pft, cel, synth)-gtr(=acoustic, e.gtr)-strings:min(6.6.4.4.3).
Abkürzungsverzeichnis (PDF).

Vertriebsgebiet
Dieses Werk ist erhältlich bei Boosey & Hawkes für Aufführungen in for the world.

Uraufführung
9/26/2010
Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA
Scott Schwartz, director / Matt Williams, choreographer
Dirigent: Valery Ryvkin
Ensemble: Opera Santa Barbara

Rollen

MYRA	Soprano
BILL	Baritone
MRS. CLAYTON	Soprano
MR. CLAYTON	Tenor
INSPECTOR WATTS	Bass

Zusammenfassung
Séance on a Wet Afternoon is a psychological thriller about a medium, Myra Foster, her doting husband Bill, and the spirit of their deceased eleven-year-old son, Arthur, who speaks to Myra and is her contact for her séances.

Because Myra has never received the recognition she feels her gifts merit, they hatch a Plan: They will kidnap the daughter of a local wealthy industrialist, and keep her safe while the media frenzy over her abduction builds. When Myra has a "vision" that leads to the successful recovery of the girl and the ransom, her fame will be assured. As The Plan is put into action, the girl's presence in the house leads to complex psychological responses from Myra, Bill, and Arthur. The delicate balance of Myra and Bill's relationship and Myra's sanity itself begins to fray, as long-buried secrets are revealed. The Plan goes badly awry, and in Myra's final séance, the drama comes to a devastating conclusion.