premiered works
Seance on a Wet Afternoon
Music and libretto by Stephen Schwartz
Based on The novel by Mark McShane
and screenplay by bryan Forbes
Seance on a wet afternoon
Séance on a Wet Afternoon is the first opera by noted Broadway and film composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked", "Godspell", "Enchanted", etc.) Based on the novel by Mark McShane and the award-winning screen adaptation by Bryan Forbes, Séanceis a psychological thriller about a medium, Myra Foster, her doting husband Bill, and the spirit of their deceased eleven-year-old son, Arthur, who speaks to Myra and is her contact for her séances. Because Myra has never received the recognition she feels her gifts merit, they hatch a Plan: They will kidnap the daughter of a local wealthy industrialist, and keep her safe while the media frenzy over her abduction builds. When Myra has a "vision" that leads to the successful recovery of the girl and the ransom, her fame will be assured. As The Plan is put into action, the girl’s presence in the house leads to complex psychological responses from Myra, Bill, and Arthur. The delicate balance of Myra and Bill’s relationship and Myra’s sanity itself begins to fray, as long-buried secrets are revealed. The Plan goes badly awry, and in Myra’s final séance, the drama comes to a devastating conclusion.
CREATOR
Stephen Shwartz
Composer, Librettist
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit WICKED, and has also contributed music and/or lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN, THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER’S WIFE, WORKING (which he also adapted and directed), RAGS, and CHILDREN OF EDEN. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein’s MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON PINOCCHIO. He has also worked in film, collaborating with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s ENCHANTED as well as the animated features POCAHONTAS and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and writing the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. His first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, was produced at Opera Santa Barbara and New York City Opera. A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has been released by Applause Books. Mr. Schwartz has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.
PRESS
Information
Duration 120’ / 1 intermission
Development The American Opera Project
Premiere April 19, 2011; New York City Opera, David H. Koch Theater, New York, NY
Orchestration:
Flute I (piccolo) / Flute II (piccolo/alto flute)/ Oboe I / Oboe II (English horn) / Clarinet I / Clarinet II / Clarinet III (bass clarinet/baritone saxophone) / Bassoon I / Bassoon II (contra-bassoon)
Percussion I / Percussion II / Percussion III*
Harp I / Harp II / Keyboard (piano/celesta/synth glass harmonica)**
Guitar (acoustic and electric with E-bow)
Trumpet I / Trumpet II / French horn I / French horn II / Trombone I / Trombone II (Bass) / Trombone III
12 violins (6 first, 6 second) / 4 violas / 4 celli /3 basses
* If possible, it would be preferable to have a fourth percussionist who plays only timpani
** If one of the percussionists can play glass harmonica, that can substitute for the synth keyboard sound