Travels
Victoria Bond
About this work:
Premiere: May 18, 1995 Roanoke Virginia
Opera Roanoke, Jonathan Arak, director; Victoria Bond, conductor.
Commentary:Travels tells the story of Gull, an adolescent on the verge of manhood. Suffocated by the confines of home, he
begins a quest for identity, love, mystery. He is haunted and spurred forward by an elusive muse. Gull embarks on his
travels by way of a train that spills him into a variety of cultures, where he encounters characters who mirror those he left
behind: his mother, father, sweetheart and brother. Far from a literal interpretation , Travels retains Swift's satirical edge,
taking a dark look at many aspects of contemporary culture from televangelists to Prozac.
Review: "Musically impressive and theatrically dynamic" Harold Prince "Sparkling, tuneful score..the hilarious
aerobics-class-from hell was a highlight." Opera News "The final aria is melodic and ethereally beautiful....a non-stop
stream of movingly beautiful music."
--American Record Guide
Year composed: 1994
Duration: 02:00:80
Ensemble type: Opera/Theater:Opera, More than One Act, with Chorus
Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 2 Horn in F, 1 Trumpet, 1 Timpani, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 22 Strings (General), 10 Violin, 5 Viola, 4 Cello, 3 Double bass, ,1 Soprano soloist(s), ,1 Mezzo-Soprano soloist(s), ,2 Tenor soloist(s), ,1 Bass-Baritone soloist(s), 1 S, 1 A, 1 T, 2 B
Instrumentation notes: Subito Music Corporation
Attention: David Murray
504 Bloomfield Avenue
Verona, NJ 07044
Tel: (973) 857-3440
dbm@subitomusic.com