10 September 2012
Dundee academic pens libretto for Carnegie Hall opera
An opera telling of the story of Flora MacDonald and Charles Edward Stuart will be staged at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York next month, with the show's libretto written by Dr Jim Stewart from the University of Dundee.
Flora and the Prince, written by Birnam-based musician Graham Robb, will premiere on October 19th as part of a programme called 'Opera Shorts', organised by New York's Remarkable Theater Brigade. Dr Stewart, a lecturer in English and a teacher in the Creative Writing programme at Dundee, was invited to consider writing the libretto by his recently retired colleague David Robb, Graham's brother.
A libretto is the text used in, or intended for, musical works such as opera, essentially the lyrics that the actors sing. Libretti have traditionally been written by someone other than the composer, often a well-known poet.
Although this is his first experience of being a librettist, Dr Stewart is a widely published poet. Similarly, Graham Robb has written music for theatre previously but this is his inaugural outing as an opera composer.
Dr Stewart says he found the experience challenging but enjoyable, and that he is looking forward to seeing the opera performed on stage.
"I would say that Opera is something I am interested in, but I couldn't pretend to be an expert in," he said. "I was familiar with libretti, so although it was a challenge because I had never written one before, I was comfortable writing this piece.
"My involvement came about when I met my old colleague, David Robb, at a screening of an opera at Dundee Contemporary Arts. He mentioned that his brother was composing this work, and asked whether I might be interested in writing the libretto.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing how it appears on stage. The short opera Graham wrote focuses on Flora MacDonald's last moments as she recalls her time helping Bonnie Prince Charlie so it is very focused piece, which helped with the writing."
Graham's involvement arose after he made contact with Monica Harte, who runs the Remarkable Theater Brigade and who puts on the Opera Shorts showcase for composers from around the world.
Monica's connections means there is a possibility of the concert being covered by cable television in the States, possibly bringing more exposure for Graham and Dr Stewart.
"I really can't wait," said Graham. "It's a tremendous opportunity to put my work in a shop window, if you like, where the potential customers include the movers and shakers on the New York arts scene."
"Monica and I corresponded back and forth for a while and then my wife and I decided to stop over in New York en route to Florida on holiday and I arranged to meet up with her.
"I took along some music she hadn't heard, and half-way through the third song she asked if I'd like to write a short opera. The idea is that it'll be one of a series of six ten-minute pieces, all in different styles, that will form a showcase of new work."
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