A chamber opera in one act for soprano tenor baritone and bass soli TTBB chorus and orchestra commissioned for the Wells 800 Celebration in 1982. Libretto by Peter Porter. Vocal score with piano reduction. Duration: c. 55minutes.Orpheus is a Chamber Opera or perhaps more properly might be described as an ‘Opera-Cantata’. It is designed to be performed as a short opera fully staged and costumed or as a concert piece. Either way itsstructure is dramatic rather than reflective. It tells the story of Orpheus probably the most familiar story in music and en emblem of their art for composers of all periods as a direct narrative. Since the legend is set inthe world of pagan mythology it has been lightly Christianised for its Church setting. The Aeneid has often been seen as speaking of Christ avant la lettre and Renaissance Humanists were always willing to identify forerunnersof Christian types in Classical personages: in this manner Orpheus pursues without undue emphasis musical parallels with St Francis St Cecilia and even Adam and Eve.The work is framed briefly by a prologue and epilogue. ThePrologue introduces the four solo singers Hades (bass) Orpheus (tenor) Eurydice (soprano) and Charon (baritone). It also introduces the chorus who do not only portray at various stages Orpheus’s wedding companions thedenizens of Hell and Blessed Spirits in the Elysian Fields but also comments on the action as it proceeds.

Janácek, Leos Fate Three Novel-like Scenes Details Edition no.: BA 9562-90 ISMN: 9790260107045 Editor: Zahrádka, Jirí Arranger: Baumann, Rasmus Language(s) of work: Czech, German Language(s) of text: Czech, German, English Product format: Piano reduction, Urtext edition Binding: Paperback Pages / Format: XXXVII, 237 S. - 27,0 x 19,0 cm Janácek’s opera “Osud” is an extraordinary example of the creative boldness of the composer and presents demanding dramaturgical challenges. This new critical edition is based on a thorough comparison of all surviving sources. The principle source is a copyist’s copy of authorised by Janácek in which all revisions are marked. Further sources include a manuscript copy of the vocal score together with the orchestral parts and various copies of the libretto. The score of this new edition will be published as part of the “Complete Critical Edition of the Works of Leoš Janácek”. • First critical edition of this opera • Foreword on the genesis of the work and its reception by Jirí Zahrádka (Cz/Eng/Ger) • New idiomatic piano reduction by Rasmus Baumann • Singable German translation

'Faust? stands for the composer Gounod himself, who was torn between the expression of excessive sensuality and a deep spirituality which he was searching for in his Catholic faith. As such, in this most important musical setting of Goethe's drama, the work was given a deeply personal interpretation. With a detailed Foreword (Fr/Eng/Ger) this new edition presents the genesis of the work with its various, during Gounod's lifetime, completely sung versions.The main version of our edition was performed at the Paris Opéra on 3 March 1869. However, simple cross references in the score enable a reconstruction of the earlier and later stages of this work for performance. Rounding off this publication is a critical edition of the libretto. All available sources are described and the Critical Commentary provides information about any changes made to the individual numbers.The two earlier Faust versions with spoken dialogue will be included in a separate volume within this series (in preparation, BA 8714). / Opéra