The following is from the DA CAPO OPERA MANUAL:
TARTUFFE
Composed by Kirke Mechem (b. August 16, 1925). Libretto by Kirke Mechem.
English. Based on the play by Moliere. Premiered San Francisco, San
Francisco Opera, Herbst Theater, May 27, 1980. Set in Paris in the 17th
century. Comic opera. Through composed. Opus 47.
SETS: 1. ACTS: 3 acts, 4 scenes. LENGTH: I, II, III: 110. HAZARDS: None.
SCENES I-III. The salone of Orgon's house.
MAJOR ROLES: Elmire (mezzo), Dorine (soprano), Mariane (soprano), Orgon
(bass), Valere (tenor), Tartuffe (baritone). MINOR ROLES: Mme. Pernelle
(mezzo), Damis (high baritone). MUTE: Flipote.
CHORUS PARTS: n/a. CHORUS ROLES: none. DANCE/MOVEMENT: none.
ORCHESTRA: Full: 2 fl (picc), 2 ob. 2 cl (bs cl), 2 bsn (cont bsn), 2 hrn,
trp, trb, 2 perc, timp, harp, strings (min. 6-5-4-4-2). Reduced: fl
(picc), ob, cl, bsn, hrn, trp, trb, perc, harp, strings. STAGEBAND: none.
PUBLISHER: G. Schirmer. RIGHTS: Copyright 1980 by G. Schirmer Inc.
I. Orgon's mother, Mme. Pernelle, is convinced that the holy man Tartuffe
is saving her son from moral ruin. But Orgon's seconde wife, Elmire, is
surprised that her husband has been taken in by Tartuffe's sham piety. She
asks him about his promise to his daughter Mariane that she could marry
Valere. orgon is evasive. Orgon tells Mariane he wants her to marry
Tartuffe. Mariane is horrified, but cannot bring herself to contradict her
father. Valere and Mariane argue but make up.
II. Elmire allows Tartuffe to make a pass at her. She then threatens to
tell her husband if he (Tartuffe) does not relinquish all claim to
Mariane. Orgon's son, Damis, overhears. He insists on more direct action:
he tells Orgon - who does not believe him. Orgon disowns Damis and makes
Tartuffe his heir.
IIIi. Elmire has Orgon hide under a table while she meets with Tartuffe.
Tartuffe makes a pass at Elmire, but Orgon does not intervene until
Tartuffe says Orgon is a fool. When Orgon confronts Tartuffe, Tartuffe
points out that he has the deed to the house. IIIii. Damis returns
disguised as a bailiff to help Tartuffe evict Orgon. While Tartuffe
fetches a police officer, Damis explains his plan: the officer whom
Tartuffe finds is Valere in disguise. Mariane presents herself as an envoy
from the king and gets Tartuffe to give her the deed. Mariane reads a list
of Tartuffe's crimes and encourages him to flee - which he does. Orgon
apologizes to his family. Preparations begin for Valere's and Mariane's
wedding.
Karen Mercedes
=====
My NEIL SHICOFF Website:
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/shicoff/shicoff.html
My Website:
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html
-----
Es en balde, majo mio, que sigas hablando
porque hay cosas que contesto yo
siempre cantando:
Tra la la...
Por mas que preguntes tanto:
tra la la...
En mi no causas quebranto
ni yo he de salir de mi canto:
tra la la...
- Fernando Periquet
|
|  |
