Opera Piano, solo Voices
SKU: PR.441410300
Composed by Lauren
Bernofsky. Score. With
Standard notation. 56
pages. Duration 30
minutes. Theodore Presser
Company #441-41030.
Published by Theodore
Presser Company
(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 Cureâ€
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.