The US premiere of Vivienne takes place in St Louis on Friday 18th October 2019
STL Opera Collective presents two contemporary operatic monodramas:
"Sentiment" by Juliana Hall with text by Caitlin Vincent and "Vivienne" by Stephen McNeff with libretto by Andy Rashleigh.
Composed in 2017 and premiered earlier this year, Juliana Hall and Caitlin Vincents Sentiment explores one womans range of emotions while ultimately revealing parts of herself she hides to maintain a positive societal view. Each section of the work leads into the next: giddy happiness followed by a plunge into depression, then anger and embarrassment at revealing too much to the audience, remorse for lashing out, and finally a plea for the world to see only the singers best side, says librettist, Caitlin Vincent. Scored for unaccompanied soprano, Emily Truckenbrod will perform the piece.
Music hall and cabaret musical styles combined with allusions to T.S. Eliots most famous poems, Vivienne by Stephen McNeff and Andy Rashleigh tells the story of Eliots first wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood. Premiered in 2013 at the Tête à Tête Festival in London, this tour-de-force one-woman opera explores Viviennes ill-fated marriage, poor health, and latter years spent in an asylum. This production, in T.S. Eliots hometown of St. Louis, is the U.S. Premiere. Contralto, Stephanie Ruggles sings Vivienne and Artistic Director, Kurtis Shoemake serves as Stage Director and Pianist.
Sung in English. Approx. run time: 1 hour
Premiered by Clare McCaldin in 2013 Vivienne enjoyed a highly successful critical reception and was subsequently recorded on Champs Hill Records The score (along with McNeff’s other works) is published by Edition Peters
Clare McCaldin in the 2013 premiere production of Vivienne