ARLECCHINO

Place: Bergamo
Time: Nineteenth Century

Arlecchino premiered in Zurich on May 11, 1917. It is a fantasy written in commedia dell’ arte style. Arlecchino plays four parts. As a rogue, he makes love to the wife of the tailor, Matteo, while the latter is reading nearby. As a soldier, he recruits Matteo into the army. As a husband, he quarrels with his wife and attacks her lover. As a conqueror, he elopes with Matteo’s wife just as the old tailor returns from the army.

TOO MANY SOPRANOS

Place: The parlor of Heaven and the caverns of Hades
Time: The present

Too Many Sopranos was first produced in a workshop, in concert form, by the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Opera Workshop on April 15, 1997 in Bloomington, IN. The world premiere of the opera took place in 2000 at the Cedar Rapids Opera Theater in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Four Divas arrive in heaven to learn there is not enough room for all of them in the Heavenly Chorus. Because too many tenors and basses are in Hell, only one of the sopranos will be allowed into the chorus. The sopranos are appalled that they must audition but submit. After their impressive auditions, St. Peter can make no decision. Gabriel therefore mentions the Redemption Clause: if the sopranos go to Hell and do a selfless deed, they can take back to Heaven as many tenors and basses as needed. To protect them in Hell, St. Peter grants them a special disguise.

Act 2. The caverns of Hades

The Divas, St. Peter, and Gabriel arrive in Hell and listen to the stories of some of the tortured souls there. Just Jeanette meets Nelson Deadly, and they fall in love. The Sandman arrives with the stage director, Orson, and presents a task to the couple: if they don’t fall asleep listening to Orson, they can take back to Heaven as many tenors and basses as they want. They fail the test, but because of a selfless act on their part, they are granted the release of the men. There is general rejoicing, and all promise St. Peter they will never sing opera again.