The Rose Elf is a one act chamber opera with music and libretto by David Hertzberg, based on the fairy tale The Elf of the Rose by Hans Christian Andersen. It premiered June 6, 2018, in the Catacombs of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York City, in a production directed by R. B. Schlather and conducted by Teddy Poll.[1] The opera's debut recording was released October 31, 2020, by Meyer Media LLC (MM20044).[2][3]
| The Rose Elf | |
|---|---|
| Opera by David Hertzberg | |
| Language | English |
| Based on | The Elf of the Rose by Hans Christian Andersen |
| Premiere | 6 June 2018 |
Roles
edit| Role[3] | Voice type[3][4] | Premiere cast, June 6, 2018 (Conductor: Teddy Poll)[5] |
|---|---|---|
| The Elf | mezzo-soprano | Samantha Hankey |
| The Girl/Luna | soprano | Alisa Jordheim |
| The Beloved/Horus | tenor | Kyle Bielfield |
| The Brother | bass-baritone | Andrew Bogard |
Instrumentation
editClarinet, horn, percussion, piano, 2 violins, viola, violoncello, bass.[4]
Critical reception
editOf the premiere, the Observer wrote, "just about everything you want opera to be. The Rose Elf shocked, confounded, disturbed, and, in the end, exalted."[6]
Following the premiere, WQXR named it the 'Opera Event of the Half Year', saying, "Hertzberg is a masterful dramatist... this one signals the arrival of a major compositional personality."[7]
Opera News called the work, "a compelling and welcome addition to the operatic canon."[5]
The Rose Elf was subsequently named among 'New York's Most Memorable Concerts of 2018'[8] and awarded Operavore's 'Freddie' Award for Best New Opera[9]
Recording
edit- 2020: Robert Kahn, conductor; Samantha Hankey, Sydney Mancasola, Kirk Dougherty, Andrew Bogard. Meyer Media LLC (MM20044).[3]
References
edit- ^ Lubow, Arthur (June 1, 2018). "Is Opera Dying? No, But This One Is Staged Among the Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ "David Hertzberg's Dark Chamber Opera The Rose Elf Set for Release on Halloween". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "The Rose Elf" (PDF). Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Opera – David Hertzberg". davidhertzbergmusic.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Arlo McKinnon (September 2018). "Review: The Rose Elf". Opera News. Vol. 83, no. 3. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "New Opera The Rose Elf Offers Morbid Enchantment". Observer. June 11, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "The Best Concerts of 2018 (So Far) | WQXR Editorial". WQXR. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "New York's Most Memorable Concerts of 2018 | WQXR Editorial". WQXR. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "The Sixth Annual Excellence in Opera (aka The Freddie) Awards | Operavore". WQXR. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
