BREAKFAST WALTZES, Bagatelle-Opera in One Act, after Molnar
Harold Blumenfeld
About this work:
BREAKFAST WALTZES is a true Women's Lib chamber opera, a bagatelle-opera in One Act. A half-hour curtain-raiser. Libretto Charles Kondek, adapted from Molnar.
Roles: Dramatic mezzo (ACTRESS), lyric soprano (WIFE), coloratura soprano (MAID); and tenor just towards end (FRANZ-FRITZI).
Chamber orch: 2 fl, ob, cl & sax, bn, hrn, piano, 1 perc, multiple strings. Workshop performances may be accompanied just by piano, traps.
Opera loaded with quotes from operatic chestnuts. Main tune a combination of "Fledermaus" and "Rosenkavalier" tunes - tunes of the two super-Strausses.
Sample SCORE PAGES on site, showing passage in which multi Strauss waltz quotes are stacked up in orchestral background. At this point (accompanying ACTRESS' aria) - half a dozen Johann Strauss Jr waltzes co-exist with each other in orchestral backgound merriment.
>Former Pub: MMB Music Inc now closed.
COMPOSER is publisher: blumenf@wustl.edu
Full Score: $65.
Vocal score: $35.
Libretto: $4.95.
THE STORY:
Apartment of successful sultry ACTRESS. Her stagestruck MAID emotes over "Ah Fritzi!" play script she tries to memorize. Doorbell. MAID admits WIFE of bookkeeper of ACTRESS' theatrical company. With receipts for bouquets and dinners in hand, WIFE accuses ACTRESS of having affair with her husband, FRANZ ("Fritzi", coincidentally, is his nickname.) ACTRESS manages to convince WIFE it's just a plot her husband trumped up so she won't take him for granted. The women part friends, ACTRESS presenting her photo to WIFE.
ACTRESS tells MAID to prepare brunch for two, take rest of day off to rehearse her lines. ACTRESS goes to bedroom door, calls, "You can come out now - your wife has left!." FRANZ replies he can't stay. ACTRESS, disappointed, enters bedroom.
MAID returns, rehearsing lines. These constitute passionate declaration of love to her play's leading character, coincidentally named Fritzi. (Nick-name for Franz.] FRANZ emerges from bedroom. Believing her words directed at himself, he smothers speechless MAID with kisses.
ACTRESS enters, catches FRANZ in the act. And WIFE returns to have photo autographed. Like ACTRESS, she has caught FRANZ red-handed. All three women converge, banishing him from apartment. Struck with ridiculous situation, they break into hysterical laughter. Curtain. On a true Fem-Lib farce.
Premiered 26 March 1994 in St Louis by Washington Univ Opera directed by John and Jolly Stewart. Performed Des Moines Metro Opera summer festival, 1997, and - in earlier version - by Chicago Opera Theater.
Year composed: 1993
Duration: 00:32:00
Ensemble type: Opera/Theater:Chamber Opera, Two or More Singers
Instrumentation: 2 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Horn in F, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 8 Violin, 3 Viola, 3 Cello, 1 Double bass, ,2 Soprano soloist(s), ,1 Mezzo-Soprano soloist(s), ,1 Tenor soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: Strings must be multiple. Percussionist plays traps, vibe, marimba. Clarinet may double on alto sax.
For workshop presentations, "Breakfast Waltzes" can be accompanied by piano and traps.