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Black Widow (opera)

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Black Widow
Opera by Thomas Pasatieri
LibrettistThomas Pasatieri
LanguageEnglish
Based onMiguel de Unamuno's Dos madres
Premiere
March 2, 1972 (1972-03-02)

Black Widow is an opera in three acts by Thomas Pasatieri with an English libretto also by the composer. The libretto is based on Miguel de Unamuno's Dos madres. The opera premiered on March 2, 1972 with Seattle Opera.[1] Lotfi Mansouri was the director. Other notable productions include Lake George Opera in 1972 and the Atlanta Civic Opera Association in 1981.

Story

The work deals with a young widow, Raquel, who is unable to have a child but is so obsessed with the idea that having a child would give her immortality that she forces her lover, Juan, to marry another woman (Berta) so that they can have a child that she can take from them.[2]

Roles

Roles Voice type Premiere Cast[3]
March 2, 1972
(Conductor: - Henry Holt)
Raquel, the "Black Widow" mezzo-soprano Joanna Simon
Berta soprano Evelyn Mandac
Doña Marta, Berta's mother mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel
Juan baritone Theodor Uppman
Don Pedro tenor David Lloyd

References

  1. ^ US Opera
  2. ^ Seattle Times, 2-28-1972
  3. ^ Hume, Paul (6 March 1972). "Black Widow': Promising". The Washington Post. p. B9.