The Golden Ticket

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The Golden Ticket is an opera based on Roald Dahl's classic 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by the contemporary American composer Peter Ash, with a libretto by Donald Sturrock. The Golden Ticket was commissioned by American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director; and Felicity Dahl. [1] It premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis on June 13, 2010 in a co-production between OTSL, Ireland's Wexford Festival Opera, and American Lyric Theater. [2]

Contents

History

The Golden Ticket was originally conceived as a project for London's Royal National Theatre, but early workshops initiated by the composer and librettist revealed the challenges of producing an opera under the auspices of a theater company that did not regularly employ classically trained singers. An early concert version of the score was presented by the Manchester Camerata shortly thereafter. This concert was considered by most to be a failure, in part due to the fact that family audiences had expected a fully staged version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – not an opera in concert. [3] After receiving funding from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in the UK, Ash and Sturrock created a 25-minute recording of excerpts of the opera to promote it to potential producers. In 2006, this recording came to the attention of American Lyric Theater's Producing Artistic Director, Lawrence Edelson, who commissioned the completion of the opera in partnership with Felicity Dahl, widow of Roald Dahl. American Lyric Theater developed the opera over a three-year period, including two extensive workshops in New York City, prior to partnering with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2010 for the world premiere production. [1] [4]

Musical forces and language

The opera is written for a virtuoso chamber orchestra of 23 players, a cast of 12 principal singers, and a chorus of 24 adults with an optional children's chorus. No children's chorus was used in the World Premiere production.

Role distribution

Chorus solos:

Chorus of gargoyles, townsfolk, Oompa Loompas, and squirrels

World premiere

The World Premiere Production Team and Cast: [5]

A co-production between Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater, and Wexford Festival Opera.

Subsequent productions

The world premiere production is a co-production between Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater and Wexford Festival Opera. Wexford has scheduled the European premiere for October 2010. American Lyric Theater is expected to announce additional production plans in late 2010. [6] The Atlanta Opera's production of The Golden Ticket was performed in March 2012. [7]

Recording

The Atlanta Opera production was recorded in March 2012 with the following cast:

Chorus: Michael Arens, Kyle Barnes, Zachary Brown, C. Augustus Godbee, Zachary Heath, Brandon Odom, Stuart Schleuse, Beverly Blouin, Rebecca Blouin, Melissa Fontaine, Jennifer Hamilton, Brishelle Miller, Laura Porlier, Amanda Smolek, Elizabeth Stuk, Laurie Tossing, Michael Gaare, Grant Jones, Stephen McCool, Jason Royal, Iván Segovia

Orchestra: Peter Ciaschini, Helen Kim, William Johnston, Charae Krueger, Lyn DeRamus, James Zellers, Jeana Melilli, Kelly Bryant, David Philipsen, David Odom, John Warren, Jan Baker, Mike Muszynsji, David Bradley, Yvonne Toll, Hollie Lifshey, Jonathan Swygert, Mark McConnell, Richard Brady, Donald Strand, Michael Cebulski, Jeff Kershner, John Lawless, Susan Brady, Michael Spassov

Conductor: Peter Ash

Chorus Master: Walter Huff

Albany Records TROY 1381/2

Notes

  1. 1 2 "New Operas for New Audiences – The Golden Ticket". Archived from the original on June 24, 2010.
  2. ↑ "The New York Times - A 'Golden Ticket' for St. Louis Opera Fans".
  3. ↑ Taylor, James C.; Times, Special to the Los Angeles (June 20, 2010). "Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' strikes right notes". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ↑ NPR 'The Golden Ticket' is Finally Unwrapped
  5. ↑ "OPERA America New Works Directory".
  6. ↑ Sierra, Gabrielle. "ALT Presents THE GOLDEN TICKET 6/16-26". BroadwayWorld.com.
  7. ↑ "The Atlanta Opera | Calendar Events - Database". www.atlantaopera.org. Archived from the original on 2011-04-23.

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