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Music Text

David Pountney, German translation by Nicola Raab (E,G)

Scoring

S,Bar,B
fl(=picc,afl).cl(=bcl,asax)-hn.tpt-perc(1):vib/marimba/3wdbl/tamb/
2tom-t/tabor/SD/v.lg BD/timp/lion's roar/guero/2susp.cym(sm,lg)/
choke cym/tam-t/sm metal bar/sm biscuit tin/blackboard-pft(=cel/hpd/
elec.org/out-of-tune upright pft/grand pft on stage(ideally adapted
to play a CD pre-recorded by the pianist,or played live)-vln.vla.vlc.
db

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

Availability
Digital Score
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World Premiere
16/06/2000
Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall, Orkney
David Pountney, director
Conductor: Etienne Siebens
Company: Muziektheater Transparent/Psappha

Roles

Mr Emmet Baritone
Mr Todd, Security, Waiter, Heating Engineer, Piano Teacher, Gabor Bass
Ka, Woman in Cafe, Reception (voice), Maid, Housekeeper, Crone, Varoomschka Soprano
Time and Place

Contemporary

Synopsis

Mr Emmet himself represents an enigma: is he a business man with briefcase and umbrella pursuing the ultimate commercial contract, a double agent extorting a much shadier deal from a foreign power, or a tragicomical everyman sifting through the flotsam and jetsam of a lifetime to prepare himself for death? Mr Emmet is sung by a baritone, and is supported by a bass and soprano who more explicitly adopt multiple roles: she can appear as seducer, mother, chanteuse, he as piano teacher, engineer, waiter and ultimately as nemesis extracting the fatal signature. The drama is framed by the man and woman scrubbing the walls of the room, eradicating the memory of Emmet along with the dirt and blood.

Moods

Comic, Poetic, Tragic

Subjects
Recommended Recording
cd_cover

Rebecca Caine / Adrian Clarke / Jonathan Best
Psappha / Etienne Siebens
Original Cast recording
Psappha PsaCD1002

Available from www.psappha.com

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