From: LouisFors <LouisFors@aol.com>
Message-Id: <1b6aaf90.351be87d@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 12:57:15 EST
To: emweb@fmgmt.mgmt.utoronto.ca
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Subject: About the opera "Emily"
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Friends:

I'll try to condense background information about the two-act opera "Emily."
Intended to tell something of ED's life (how much I don't know), it was
conposed by Brent Pierce, resident composer at Fullerton College, California.
Written for a 60-piece orchestra, Pierce and his librettist, Shelley B.
Peltier, and director Gary Krinke, could not find funds for a full-scale
mounting, so they chopped it down to a concert presentation, held at the
Muckenthaler Cultural Center, once a Victorian home, now a museum.  The space
they used had seating for 65 people; three sections of Ed's home were used as
sets.  Costumes are described as appropriate for time and place.  The full
cast of characters is not in the review I read but at least the following
appear:  Judge Lord, proclaiming his love for ED, Vinnie, Father Dickinson,
and Death (sung by the same person), and Emily, sung by a soprano.  The
reviewer I read found the music less than satisfactory.  (Composer Pierce had
to use a synthesizer in place of a full orchestra, and, even then, was able
only to present string sections.)  Emily often sat at a harpsichord on stage,
"playing," but a piano backstage provided the music.  Reviewer regarded that
as laughable, as well as anachronistic.  Reviewer admired Emily's aria "I'm
Nobody," a presentation with "jazz quirkeness," singer accompanied by
clarinet.  Duet between Vinnie and Emily is described as "endearing."  The
soprano singing Emily apprently had a big load to bear, being on stage much of
the two hour length of the opera. 

Sorry that I can't give you an Internet site for this material.  I followed
Fred's advice of a couple of days ago and went to the Web site "Electric
Library" (www.elibrary.com), a pay-for-view place, and searched "Emily
Dickinson," and a review of the opera popped up.  Source:  Los Angeles Times,
Orange County edition, January 26, 1998, "Music Review:  'Emily' makes Long-
Awaited Premiere, but in Trimmed Form."  I suspect there are many other sites
on the Internet dealing with the opera, but I haven't searched them out.

P.S. I've just read Mike's comment on the evening and realize that I've
presented views of the Los Angeles Times critic most gently.  Sounds like real
fun, Mike!  I'd really like to hear the jazzy "I'm Nobody" aria.  Well, I
won't withdraw this post, since I've just completed it.  Hey, I'm only a
messenger for a messenger.

Louis Forsdale