SKU: HL.48185864

Saint Francis of Assisi is an opera in 3 acts by Olivier Messiaen. This first volume is focused on the Act 1 ? 1. La croix, 2. Les laudes, 3. Le baiser au lepreux. It depicts the moments when Saint Francis explains what is the Perfect Joy according to the love of the Christ, his request to God to meet a leper and to be able to love him, and, finally, his meeting with a leper, assisted by an Angel. The leper is cured from this meeting. Based on the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, this opera is set in Italy and is composed as per below: Act I: 1. La croix 2. Les laudes 3. Le baiser au lepreux Act II 4. L?ange voyageur 5. L?ange musicien 6. Le preche aux oiseaux Act II 7. Les stigmates 8. La mort et la nouvelle vie This opera was played at the Paris Opera in 1983. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French organist and composer passionate about Ornithology and one of the most important composers of his century. Inspired by Japanese music, he had a very special way of composing and his work can be identified by its complexity, its diatonic aspect, its harmony with limited transposition, its colour and its additive rhythms. He composed many works related to ornithology and birdsong, including the 'Bird Catalogue' in 7 volumes and the 'Treatise on rhythm, colour and ornithology' in 7 volumes..

SKU: AP.6-249441

ISBN 9780486249445. Italian.

Standard Italian libretto of what has been called the greatest opera ever composed, with a complete new English translation. Convenient and thoroughly portable---an ideal companion for reading along with a recording or the performance itself. All repeats are given in full.

SKU: PR.441410300

ISBN 9781491111512. UPC: 680160667543. 9 x 12 inches. Lauren Bernofsky.

RUFUS AND RITA is an adorable, light-hearted opera about a girl and her zany dog, commissionedby Reimagining Opera for Kids for in-school performances. The libretto features several forks in theroad where the audience votes on what should happen next. The opera is scored for four singersof any voice range, plus piano; there is also an expanded version for chamber ensemble.
RUFUS AND RITA is a light-hearted opera for young audiences, scored for fouradult singers of any voice type. Singers may adjust octaves as necessary, soany part may be sung by a male or female voice.A chamber version of the accompaniment is also available from TheodorePresser Company (441-41031), scored for a flexible-instrumentation ensembleof piano with any two treble instruments and one bass instrument.* * *RUFUS AND RITA contains many improvised elements, from spoken dialogueto improvised vocal parts. Instructions are given throughout the score. Theduration is approximately 30 minutes, depending on the length of theimprovised sections.The libretto is flexible – at several points in the show, the audience votes onwhat happens next, from choices given by a narrator. Some musical numbers,as well as props and set accessories, are determined by the choice. Forinstance, if the audience votes for Rufus to have found a dog biscuit, then 2a.The Dog Treat is performed (and 2b. Fido's Lament is omitted.) The pianistmay serve as the narrator, who announces what is being voted on and talliesthe vote by observing a show of hands.* * *Thanks to Mary Alice Cox, D.V.M., for her expertise regarding the medical careof Rufus in “The Cure” and to Susan Archibald for her editorial comments.Thanks, also, to Felissa Elfenbein for permission to use her zucchini dog treatrecipe.My everlasting thanks to my editor, Daniel Dorff, for his faith in my music.Finally, my deepest gratitude to Kim Carballo and the cast of ReimaginingOpera for Kids, who helped me develop the opera into its final version.

SKU: PR.111403050

UPC: 680160683857. 9 x 12 inches. English.

SKU: SU.30190010

Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone; 1.0.1.0; 0.0.0.0; pno; 1.1.1.0 Duration: 25' Libretto: Joyce Carol Oates Composed: 1999-2002 Published by: Parsonage Press SYNOPSIS: A middle-aged married couple, burdened with the increasing ill-health and irascibility of their Poor Bibi, whom they once adored, make a decision to have him/her put to sleep by a veterinarian. When, repulsed by the request, the veterinarian refuses to perform the simple procedure, the husband and wife are forced to kill Poor Bibi themselves in a frenzied, brutal manner: For we soon forget what we do, in the human desperation of doing it. The ordinarily gentle and civilized couple then confront us, the audience: And you, you damned hypocrites, what will you do with yours? -- Joyce Carol Oates.