New Year (opera)

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New Year
Opera by Michael Tippett
LibrettistTippett
LanguageEnglish
Premiere
27 October 1989 (1989-10-27)

New Year is a British opera in three acts with music and libretto by Sir Michael Tippett. As with Tippett's other operas, the text and music encompass a widely eclectic range of cultural references. [1] [2] Tippett has noted that the "primary metaphor" of the opera is dance. [1] The choreographer of the original production was the noted American dancer Bill T. Jones.

Contents

Performance history

The opera received its world premiere at Houston Grand Opera on 27 October 1989, in a production by Sir Peter Hall. [3] Hall subsequently directed the first UK production at Glyndebourne, which ran in the period of July-August 1990. Glyndebourne Touring Opera subsequently presented an adapted version of Peter Hall's production in October 1990 at Glyndebourne and at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, and in November 1990 at the Apollo Theatre, Oxford. [4] [5]

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra presented a semi-staged concert performance of New Year on 13 April 2024 at Glasgow City Halls, [6] a performance recorded for commercial release in 2025 by NMC Recordings. [7] [8] [9] The most recent full staging of the opera was in July 2024 by Birmingham Opera Company, directed by Keith Warner. [10]

Roles

Roles, voice type, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 27 October 1989
Houston Grand Opera
Conductor: John DeMain
UK premiere cast, 1 July 1990
Glyndebourne Opera
Conductor: Andrew Davis
Jo Ann, a trainee children's doctorlyric soprano Helen FieldHelen Field
Donny, her young brotherlight baritone Krister St. HillKrister St. Hill
Nan, their foster motherdramatic mezzo-soprano Jane ShaulisJane Shaulis
Merlin, the computer wizarddramatic baritone James Maddalena James Maddalena
Pelegrin, the space pilotlyric tenor Peter Kazaras Philip Langridge
Regan, their bossdramatic soprano Richetta ManagerRichetta Manager
The presentermicrophoned male singerJohn SchiappaNigel Robson

Synopsis

The story of the opera moves between two worlds, of "Somewhere and Today" and "Nowhere and Tomorrow".

Act 1

Jo Ann is a child psychologist who wants to work with young victims of the urban conflict going on in "Terror Town" outside of her domicile. However, she is so afraid of Terror Town that she does not venture out of the apartment. Her Rastafarian foster brother Donny is generally delinquent in his behaviour towards her and their mutual foster mother, Nan. Out of nowhere, a spaceship emerges, carrying Merlin, a "computer wizard", and the pilot Pelegrin, under the leadership of Regan. These are time travelers from the future, and the ship makes a connection with Jo Ann's apartment.

Act 2

It is centered at a New Year's festivity. A shaman, in a trance, induces the crowd of revellers to pummel Donny as part of the celebration. The space ship arrives and Merlin asserts his authority over the activities. Jo Ann and Pelegrin do meet, but they are separated when the spaceship leaves the scene. Jo Ann saves Donny from the beating crowd, and the act ends to the sounds of the traditional song "Auld Lang Syne".

Act 3

Pelegrin presents Jo Ann with a symbolic rose, as a symbol of their love. She loses the rose, but he recovers it. Jo Ann is finally cured of her fears and can go out again into the world outside of her home. The Presenter summarizes the final message as: "One humanity, one justice".

References

  1. 1 2 Lewis, Geraint (November 1989). "New Year in the New World". The Musical Times. 130 (1761): 665–669. JSTOR   965746.
  2. Clarke, David (1990). "Reviews of Music: Tippett, Michael, New Year: an Opera in Three Acts: vocal score" . Music & Letters. 71 (3): 468–472. doi:10.1093/ml/71.3.468.
  3. Donal Henehan (30 October 1989). "Reviews/Music; Time Traveling and Agoraphobia in Tippett Opera". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  4. Lewis, Geraint (July 1990). "New Year Is Here". The Musical Times. 131 (1769): 355–357. JSTOR   965746.
  5. Allenby, David (December 1990). "Tippett's New Year". Tempo . 175: 35–36. JSTOR   944584.
  6. Ken Walton (15 April 2024). "Music review: BBC SSO & Martin [sic] Brabbins, City Halls, Glasgow". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  7. "NMC and BBCSSO announce first recording of Michael Tippett's opera New Year" (Press release). NMC Recordings. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  8. Richard Fairman (4 March 2025). "New Year album review — Tippett's otherworldly opera receives a fine first recording". Financial Times. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  9. Philip Harrison (19 March 2025). "Review of Sir Michael Tippett: New Year (NMC D291)". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  10. Nicholas Kenyon (11 July 2024). "New Year, Birmingham Opera Company, The Dream Tent: Fascinating revival of a bonkers but brilliant work". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 January 2025.