Peter Pan (No. 45)

Opera in two acts

Libretto and English text by Lavinia Greenlaw, based on the story by J. M. Barrie

This opera is a fascinating work about childhood and its unique possibilities and dangers. Richard Ayres’ score is characteristic in its extraordinary high energy and extremes of register. Tinkerbell, for example, is characterised by the sound of two piccolos, a glockenspiel and an accordion so that, even though she does not speak, her emotions are unmistakable. Portrayed through Ayres’ musical non sequiturs and juxtapositions, the children’s wildness and brutality is simultaneously comic and disquieting.

Edition: Performance material

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Description

Based on the classic story by J. M. Barrie, Richard Ayres' Peter Pan brings to life the boy who never grew up. Ayres’ score is characteristic in its extraordinary high energy and extremes of register. The music tumbles and soars, carrying the action quickly from the nursery into the stormy skies, and on to the battlefields of Neverland with its Lost Boys, Pirates and Indians.

Portrayed through Ayres’ musical non sequiturs and juxtapositions, the children’s wildness and brutality is simultaneously comic and disquieting. The composer’s gift for lyricism shines through at other times: Mother’s lullaby and Wendy’s song about home are moments of stunning beauty.

Orchestral Cast

pic(fl).1(pic).0.Ebcl.1.cbcl.1.cbsn-3.Ebtpt.1(flugelhn).1.0.cimbasso-timp.3perc(glsp, vib, xyl, mar, crot, tri, sus cym, Chinese cym, 3clash cym (lg, sm, v.sm), tub bells, tam-t, v.sm tam-t, metal wind chimes, 8 metal pipes, various metal objects (tin cans, broken cymbals, etc.), s.d, b.d, kit, 2tempbl, 2wdbl, 2 v.v. loud ratchets, 2 giant lion's roars, v. lg guiro, 9+flexatones, 4 wooden objects, sandpaper blocks, lg. wooden box (+ hammers + nail), wood for sawing)-hp.acc-str(10.8.6.5.3 minimum)

Cast

Peter Pan · countertenor - Wendy · soprano - Mr Darling (Father) / Captain Hook · bass - Mrs Darling (Mother) / Tiger Lily, alto - John · tenor - Michael · soprano - Nana (Dog) / Starkey (Pirate) · baritone - Smee (Pirate) · tenor - Nibs · tenor (also in Lost Boys Choir) - Tootles · tenor (also in Lost Boys Choir) - Twins (Slightly & Curley) · 2 basses (also in Lost Boys Choir) - Lost Boys (male or children's chorus) - Pirates (male chorus)

More Information

Title:

Peter Pan (No. 45)

Opera in two acts

Libretto and English text by Lavinia Greenlaw, based on the story by J. M. Barrie

German translation by Adelheid and Jürgen Dormagen

Language:

German, English

Edition:

Performance material

Publisher/Label:

Schott Music

Year of composition:

2011 - 2014

Duration:

90 ′

World Premiere:

December 19, 2013 · Stuttgart (D)
Opernhaus
Conductor: Roland Kluttig; Willem Wentzel, (10./11. Feb 2014, 13./16./18./27. Dez 2015, 02. Jan 2016) · Choir director: Christoph Heil
Original staging: Frank Hilbrich · Costumes: Duncan Hayler · Set design: Duncan Hayler
(scenic)

May 16, 2015 · Cardiff (UK)
Wales Millennium Centre
Conductor: Erik Nielsen
Original staging: Keith Warner · Costumes: Nicky Shaw · Set design: Jason Southgate · Choreography: Michael Barry
Organizer: Welsh National Opera
(scenic)

Commissioned work :

Commissioned by Oper Stuttgart and Komische Oper Berlin, supported by the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung