Today : world première of 'The Selfish Giant' by Simon Bruckard in Melbourne

Today, the Victorian Opera in Melbourne presents the world première of The Selfish Giant, a youth opera composed by Simon Bruckard with a libretto by Emma Muir-Smith after Oscar Wilde.

It is the composer's first opera.

A grumpy giant excludes children from his garden causing it to fall into perpetual winter. Only once he finds the love and generosity to welcome back the children, does his garden flourish with life and restore his happiness. (reproduced from the Victorian Opera website)

The cast consists of baritone Stephen Marsh (The Giant). Simon Bruckard conducts the Victorian Opera Chamber Orchestra and the Victorian Opera Youth Chorus Ensemble (VOYCE). Cameron Menzies directs.

The performance should last about 75 minutes. There is no interval.

The venue is the Gasworks Theatre in Albert Park.

Today : world première of B Tommy Andersson's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in Vadstena

Today, the Vadstena Akademien presents the world première of B Tommy Andersson's The Importance of Being Earnest, with a libretto by William Relton based on the play by Oscar Wilde.

(c) Jan-Olav Wedin

It is the composer's second opera after William (Vadstena, 2006).

Two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. (reproduced from importanceofbeingearnest.co.uk)

The cast includes baritone Sebastian Duran (Jack Worthing), baritone Hannes Öberg (Algernon Moncrieff), tenor Nils Hübinette (Rev. Fredrick Chasuble), mezzo Ingrid Tobiasson (Lady Augusta Bracknell), mezzo Francine Vis (Gwendolen Fairfax) and soprano Vivianne Holmberg (Cecily Cardew). The composer conducts a chamber orchestra of soloists and the librettist directs.

The required orchestra is the following :

- 1 piccolo, 1 English horn, 1 bass clarinet, 1 double bassoon ;
- 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone ;
- harp, celesta and piano ;
- strings (1.1.2.1.1 or 8.6.6.5.3).

The performance should last about 110 minutes. Another opera with a libretto after the same play was already composed by Gerald Barry in 2011 and first performed the same year by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

May 9th, 2015 : World première of Gordon Getty's 'The Canterville Ghost' in Leipzig

Today, Gordon Getty's third opera, The Canterville Ghost, with a libretto written by the composer after Oscar Wilde's short story, will be performed for the first time in Leipzig (Opera House).

It is Getty's third opera after Usher House and Plump Jack. It requires the following orchestra :
- 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon
- 2 horns, trumpet, 2 trombones, tuba
- 2 percussion, harp, piano / celesta / harpsichord
- strings
It is at least the third opera inspired by this story, after works by Alexander Knaifel and Jaroslav Křička.

The Ghost tries desperately to scare to new residents of the Canterville-Castel. It is the story telling of Virginia Otis and her meeting with the Canterville Ghost who once was a successful scary Ghost but is not any more taken seriously by the Otis family who rented Canterville Manor. The Ghost feels like an old great actor whose art does not impress any more. Virginia helps him to rest for ever. (reproduced from the Oper Leipzig website)

The cast is the following : soprano Jennifer Porto (Virginia), mezzo Jean Broekhuizenrs (Mrs. Otis), mezzo Denise Wernly (1st Twin, 1st Boy, 1st Voice from Tapestry), mezzo Rachel Marie Hauge (2nd Twin, 2nd Boy, 2nd Voice from Tapestry), tenor Timothy Oliver (Cecil Cheshire), baritone Jonathan Michie (Hiram Otis), bass Matthew Trevino (Ghost / Sir Simon).
Matthias Foremny conducts the Gewandhausorchester. Anthony Pilavachi directs.

The opera should last about 60 minutes and is performed as the first part of a double bill evening also featuring Ruggerro Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.