Pocahontas
Linda Tutas Haugen
About this work:
The opera Pocahontas, with music by Linda Tutas Haugen and
libretto by Joan Vail Thorne, is about the miracle and the mystery
surrounding the life of the title character. There is nothing in the
opera that contradicts the known "facts" of her story, but there is
much of her story that is not known. Therefore, in a nonlinear
sequence of "real" and imagined events that bridge time and place,
this remarkable young woman is viewed as a prodigy of her
Algonquin culture and the admired respected emissary of her father,
Powhatan, the Great Chief of numerous Algonquin tribes. She is
also seen as the equal in strength and courage of the redoubtable
English Captain John Smith and the wife of the English colonist,
John Rolfe, the mother of his child and the very first American
"woman of two worlds."
This opera is the work of the imagination that celebrates a life. It
does not attempt to explain or to analyze it, it simply marvels at the
magnitude and significance of nineteen short years. We have long
celebrated our "founding fathers"; we have even struck a coin in
honor of another amazing Native American woman; but much of
what has been done in art and entertainment about Pocahontas has
been grossly inaccurate and ultimately demeaning to her heritage.
Despite her origins in a culture that allowed women positions of
influence and power, she has more often than not been seen as the
besotted love object of white males. To the contrary, as
ambassador of her great father, she was a savior of the Jamestown
colony in a time of terrible drought. Later in her life, again as an
ambassador in a triumphant visit to England with her colonist
husband, John Rolfe, she became the toast of London, enjoyed the
aristocracy's extravagant admiration, and was received at the court
of King James I.
Ironically, it was in the midst of this triumph that she met her
untimely end. Even her death was prophetic. Although no one can
definitely cite the cause, it probably came from the microbes of a
world that would eventually claim not only her life, but the
honorable, vigorous civilization of her people. Andre Malranx has
said, "Art is a revolt against fate." This opera would defy death and
bring Pocahontas back to life as an example of the intelligence and
courage that young people deserve in a role model. Ingmar
Bergman has said, "Music is the only art that bypasses the intellect
and goes straight to the soul." This opera would hope to paint
Pocahontas deep in the soul of a people who owe their existence in
part to her having been born. This opera is a celebration. As the
words of the libretto attest:
This is a story
This is not a history
This is a story
This is a mystery
Year composed: 2007
Duration: 01:30:40
Ensemble type: Opera/Theater:Chamber Opera, Two or More Singers
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: 8 soloists, chorus, Native American singers and drummers, and chamber orchestra