The Trapeze Artists
by Anthony Ritchie, a chamber opera, Opus 73
This mini-opera explores the stages of a relationship, and is richly varied in tone and mood.
This performance directed by Terry MacTavish MNZM for Opera Otago at the Dunedin Fringe Festival.
Performed by Tessa Romano (mezzo-soprano), Cathy Highton-Sim (soprano), Kieran Kelly (baritone), Sanaz Rezai (piano and musical direction), Georgie Watts (percussion) and Lloyd Williams (basses) at Hanover Hall, Dunedin, 19 March 2024.
Filmed and edited by Chris Watson for the SOUNZ Films Project (funded by NZ On Air). Audio recorded by Emre Ekici.
- YEAR: 1996
- DURATION: 35'00
- LIBRETTO: Louise Petherbridge, using poems by Hone Tuwhare and Cilla McQueen
- COMMISSIONED BY: Louise Petherbridge
- INSTRUMENTATION: chamber opera for 3 singers,(soprano, alto, baritone) piano, double bass, percussion (1 player on Tam tam, Drum Kit, including suspended cymbals (large and small), snare drum, tom toms, bass drum (with foot action), Bass drum (stand alone), Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Tambourine (for double bass player!), Triangle, Wood block
- LEVEL: 3 | Professional and semi-professional musicians
Programme Note
Characters:
Circus Woman (contralto)
Woman (soprano)
Man (baritone)
Instruments:
Piano (doubling electronic keyboard)
Percussion (one player, including drum kit)
Double Bass (doubling bass guitar and tambourine)
Texts:
The Trapeze Artists - Cilla McQueen
Rapunzel - Cilla McQueen
Thine Own Hands have Fashioned - Hone Tuwhare
Wild Sweets - Cilla McQueen
Bad Bananas - Cilla McQueen
Tangi - Hone Tuwhare
Prelude? - Hone Tuwhare
Where Shall I Wander- Hone Tuwhare
The Old Place - Hone Tuwhare
These settings are to be performed without a break. Organisation of texts, creation of characters, stage directions etc are by Louise Petherbridge, the director of the opera.
Poster for the 2024 Dunedin Fringe Festival performance.
