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Brokeback Mountain is an opera by American composer Charles Wuorinen with a libretto in English by Annie Proulx based on her short story story of the same name.
Background and premiere performance[edit]
In 2007 Wuorinen approached Proulx with the idea of turning her short story into an opera. Proulx agreed to adapt the piece for the stage herself. Gerard Mortier, incoming general director of the New York City Opera arranged to commission the work. When Mortier abruptly left the New York City Opera Wuorinen the projevt was left in limbo until Mortier took up his new posrt at the Teatro Real - bringing Brokeback with him. Work on the opera was begin in 2008 and complered in 2012. Premiere scheduled for 28 January 2014 in Madrid.
Differences between the libretto and the short story[edit]
In adapting the work for the stage Proulx.....
Roles[edit]
| Role | Voice type | World premiere Teatro Real 28 January 2014 (Conductor: Titus Engel) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ennis del Mar | bass-baritone | ||
| Jack Twist | tenor | ||
| Aguirre, Trail boss | bass | ||
| Alma Beers, Ennis’ wife | soprano | ||
| Mrs. Beers, Alma's mother | mezzo-soprano | ||
| Lureen, Jack’s wife | mezzo-soprano | ||
| Hogboy, Lureen's father | bass | ||
| John Twist Sr., Jack's father | tenor | possible double with role of Jack Twist | |
| Mrs. Twist, Jack's mother) | alto | ||
| Bartender | alto | ??? | |
| Saleswoman | alto | ??? | |
| Chorus: Townspeople (including Cowboy) | |||
Instrumentation[edit]
The orchestral score calls for:
- 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 3 clarinets (2 in B-flat, 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon;
- 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, tuba;
- timpani, 2 or 3 percussion: xylophone, 5-octave marimba, vibraphone, deep bass drum, 4 drums, guiro, harp, piano
- strings (violins I, violins II, violas, violoncellos, double basses).
Scenes[edit]
Act 1[edit]
- Scene 1: 1963, Aguirre’s trailer
- Scene 2: Bar, Old Longhorn
- Scene 3: On the mountain
- Scene 4: Main camp, four days later
- Scene 5: Main camp, next day sunset
- Scene 6: Main camp, next morning
- Scene 7: Dress shop
- Scene 8: Lower main camp, twilight
- Scene 9: Next morning, first light
- Scene 10: Farm machinery salesroom, Texas
- Scene 11: 1967, interior Alma and Ennis’s apartment in Riverton
Act 2[edit]
- Scene 1: 1967, Del Mar apartment
- Scene 2: Motel Siesta
- Scene 3: Six or seven years later, Del Mar apartment
- Scene 4: Farm machinery salesroom, Texas
- Scene 5: Del Mar apartment
- Scene 6: Thanksgiving, Alma and Bill’s dining room and kitchen
- Scene 7: 1983, in the mountains, late afternoon
- Scene 8: Early autumn, downtown Riverton, in front of post office
- Scene 9: Twist kitchen
- Scene 10: Jack’s bedroom
References[edit]
Notes
Category:Operas Category:Operas by Charles Wuorinen Category:2012 operas Category:English-language operas