Daron Hagen

Music Text
Libretto by Paul Muldoon (E)

Scoring

• Original Orchestration (45 players): voices: S(4), Mez-S(2), A(2), T(3), Bar(4), Bass-B(1), B; mixed chorus; 2.2.2.2-2.2.2.1-timp-perc(3)-hp-pft-str(6.6.5.5.2 in players, minimum) [Onstage Piano Trio: vln.vlc.pft]
• Condensed "COT" Orchestration (36 players): voices: S(4), Mez-S(2), A(2), T(3), Bar(4), Bass-B(1), B; mixed chorus; 2(I,II=pic;I=tamb).2(II=CA).2(I=Eb;II=bc).2-2.2(I=flug).2.1-perc(1).timp-hp.synth-strings(5.5.3.3.2 in players minimum) [Onstage Piano Trio: vln.vlc.pft]
• “Taliesin West” Version (24 players): solo voices: S(2), Mez-S, T, Lyric-B, B; male chorus; 1(=pic/alto).1(=CA).1(=BC/Eb).1-1.0.0.0-perc(1).timp-pft-strings(4.4.3.3.2 in players)
• "Fallingwater" Chamber Version (7 players): solo voices: S, Mez-S, T, Lyr-Bar, B; no chorus; fl(=pic).ob(=CA).cl(=Eb/BC).synth.vln.vla.vlc
• “Usonian” Chamber Version (7 players): solo voices: S, Mez-S, T, Lyr-Bar, B; no chorus; fl(=pic/alto).ob(=CA).cl(=Eb/BC)-synth-vln.vla.vlc
  

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Publisher:
E.C. Schirmer

Territory
This work is available from E.C. Schirmer in the US and Stainer and Bell in Europe.

World Premiere

• Original Version: 2 Acts / 120 mins. / Premiere: Madison Opera / Stephen Wadsworth / Rolland Johnson
• Condensed "COT" Orchestra Version: 2 Acts / 120 mins. / Premiere: Chicago Opera Theater / Ken Cazan / Lawrence Rapchak
• "Fallingwater" Version: 1 Act / 60 mins. / Premiere: Opera Theater of Pittsburgh / Jonathan Eaton / Robert Frankenberry
• “Taliesin West Version” Version: 1 Act / 90 mins. / Premiere: Arizona Opera / Chas Rader-Shieber / Lidiya Yankovskaya
• “Usonian" Version: 1 Act / 90 mins. / Premiere: Urban Arias Opera / Grant Preisser / Robert Wood
  

Roles
Frank Lloyd Wright (Bar)
Mamah Cheney (S)
Louis Sullivan (T)
Edwin Cheney (Bass-Bar)
Catherine Wright (Mez-S)
Maid / 3rd Townswoman (S)
Julian Carleton (spoken)

1st Townswoman (S)
1st Draftsman's Wife (S)
2nd Guest's Wife (Mez-S)
2nd Townswoman (A)
2nd Draftsman's Wife (A)
2nd Workman / 2nd Reporter / 2nd Guest (T)+
5th Workman / 1st Reporter (T-lead)+
First Draftsman / Last Draftsman (T / Bar
3rd Workman / 3rd Reporter / 2nd Draftsman (Bar)+
1st Workman / 1st Guest (Bar)
4th Workman / 1st Photographer (B)+
Waiter (mute)
Two Children (mute)
+ = the Barbershop Quartet

Mixed Chorus of 18-40 voices who at various times portray Draftsmen, Construction Workers, Townspeople, Reporters, Photogrpahers, Party Guests, Firemen, and the Taliesin Staff

Time and Place
Chicago, Illinois; Berlin, Germany; and Spring Green, Wisconsin, between 1903 and April 21, 1925.

Synopsis
The opera concerns events that occured between 1903 and 1914 during the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's life. Wright's determination to leave his wife and children, his relationship with Mamah Cheney, and the subsequent murders and conflagration at Taliesin, are all part of the historical record. The opera takes Wright to the point at which he vows to rebuild Taliesin in Mamah's memory. The opera was commissioned by the Madison Opera, a division of the Madison Civic Music Association. The composer was officially authorized by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Taliesin Fellowship to compose the opera and to have it published.

Production Stills
Here

Links
Wikipedia | vocal score | libretto | recording

Listen
Spotify

Selected Notable Performances
Buffalo Philharmonic, Urban Arias, Chicago Opera Theater, Florida Southern College, Tulsa Opera, Arizona Opera

Selected Reviews
Opera, John Koopman, 8-93; Wisconsin State Journal, 5-27-93; The New Yorker, Paul Griffiths, 5-17-93; The Village Voice, Leighton Kerner, 5-11-93; Isthmus (WI), Jess Anderson, 4-30-93; The New York Times, James R. Oestreich, 4-28-93; Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein, 4-23-93; Milwaukee Sentinel, Nancy Raabe, 4-23-93; Chicago Sun-Times, Wynne Delacoma, 4-23-93; The Capital Times (WI), Jay Rath, 4-22-93.