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Music Text

Libretto by the composer (E)

Scoring

Major roles: 2S,M,3T,Bar,BBar;
minor roles: S,2boyS,3T,7Bar,2B; chorus
2(II=picc).2(II=corA).2.2-4.2.3.1-timp.perc(2):SD/tamb/glsp/cym/BD/
gong/xyl/wdbl/tgl-harp-strings

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

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

Availability

World Premiere
11/10/1962
City Center, New York, NY
Allen Fletcher, director
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Company: Theodor Uppman/Phyllis Curtin/New York City Opera

World premiere of version
18/01/1991
Brown Theatre, Houston
Carlisle Floyd, director/Guenther Schneider-Siemssen & Allen Charles Klein, designers
Conductor: John DeMain
Company: Houston Grand Opera

Roles

JUDGE TOWNSEND Bass-Baritone
CELIA TOWNSEND Soprano
YOUNG GIRL Soprano
LIEUTENANT PATRICK Tenor
COLONEL JONATHAN WADE Baritone
FOUR BLACK BOYS Boy Soprano and Baritone Quartet
WOUNDED CONFEDERATE SOLDIER Baritone
NICEY BRIDGES Mezzo-Soprano
J. TERTIUS RIDDLE Bass-Baritone
LUCAS WARDLAW Tenor
ENOCH PRATT Tenor
UNION LEAGUE ORATOR Tenor
SERGEANT BRANCH Baritone
1st SOLDIER Tenor
2nd SOLDIER Bass
1st BLACK SENATOR Tenor
2nd BLACK SENATOR Baritone
1st CARPETBAGGER Tenor
2nd CARPETBAGGER Baritone
JUDGE JAMES C. BELL Baritone
JUDGE McBRIDE non-speaking role
CARRIAGE DRIVER speaking role
People of Columbia, Guardian Knights, Union Soldiers, and Nicey's Friends
Time and Place

mid 1860s, post Civil War Columbia, South Carolina

Synopsis

The opera opens in Columbia, South Carolina at the end of the Civil War. It is 1865, and Columbia is a blackened ruin. Colonel Jonathan Wade, a Northern army officer, arrives in town and is greeted by a local judge, Gibbes Townsend, who invites him to dinner and introduces Wade to his daughter Celia, a war widow. Despite parental and societal objections due to the North and South conflicts, Wade and Celia begin to fall in love.

Later, at a party given by Judge Townsend as a gesture of conciliation, two guests, Lucas Wardlaw and Enoch Pratt, quarrel over the rights of newly freed slaves. Wade is caught in the verbal crossfire as guests express anti-Northern sentiments and denounce his views.

In 1866, an order comes from Washington demanding that the defeated Southerners take an oath of loyalty. Judge Townsend refuses, and is therefore forced to resign. Celia, on the other hand, takes the oath and Wade declares his love for her. As Wade and Celia kiss, Wardlaw discovers the couple together and threatens Wade with the vengeance of a vigilante group if he pursues the relationship further.

Colonel Wade appeals to Washington on Judge Townsend’s behalf but is unable to reverse the order; Townsend blames Wade, forbidding him to see Celia. Wade and Celia marry in spite of Townsend’s opposition, and the judge renounces his daughter. As a result, Wade finds his moderate position difficult to maintain. Pratt decides to have him replaced; Wade decides to desert the army and leave Columbia with Celia.

As the couple is leaving town a shot is fired, and Jonathan Wade dies in Celia’s arms. Various parties blame each other for his death. Finally, Celia says they are all culpable, and dreams of a time when their love might have flourished.

Moods

Dramatic

Subjects

Links

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