- Nico Muhly
Marnie (2017)
- St. Rose Music Publishing (World)
Commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera
Opera in two acts
- 3(2pic.afl).2(ca).3(ebcl.bcl).2(2cbsn)/4.3(pictpt).2+btbn.1/timp.4perc/hp.pf(cel)/str
- Chorus: Office workers, Anxiety chorus, Hunt riders, Country Club guests, Funeral attendees, Marnie’s other personae
- Baritone, Bass, Boy Soprano, 2 Contraltos, Countertenor, Mezzo Soprano, 5 Sopranos, 3 Tenors
- 2 hr
- Nicholas Wright
- English
Programme Note
CAST
Marnie, mezzo-soprano
Mark Rutland, baritone
Terry Rutland, countertenor
Mr. Strutt, tenor
Marnie's mother. contralto
Mrs. Rutland, coloratura soprano
Dr. Roman, bass
Laura Fleet, soprano
Malcolm Fleet, tenor
Dawn (Halcyon Printing secretary), soprano
Miss Fedder (Halcyon Printing superintendent), soprano
Mrs. Carby (Halcyon Printing assistant), contralto
Lucy (Marnie’s Mother’s neighbour), soprano
Little Boy (at Marnie’s Mother’s house), boy soprano
Derek, tenor
Chorus (Office workers, Anxiety chorus, Hunt riders, Country Club guests, Funeral attendees, Marnie’s other personae)
SYNOPSIS
Set in late 1950s England, Winston Graham’s novel was immortalised by the Hitchcock movie, which, despite its changes to a number of features of the original, restored in Nico Muhly’s opera, is the prism through which we inevitably see the action. Marnie is a deeply troubled young woman robbing from her employers and changing identity to stay one jump ahead of the law. She is eventually found out by Mark who, threatening to expose her crime, forces her into an initially loveless marriage but has the power to make her confront a past of which her damaged life has been the result.
Marnie, mezzo-soprano
Mark Rutland, baritone
Terry Rutland, countertenor
Mr. Strutt, tenor
Marnie's mother. contralto
Mrs. Rutland, coloratura soprano
Dr. Roman, bass
Laura Fleet, soprano
Malcolm Fleet, tenor
Dawn (Halcyon Printing secretary), soprano
Miss Fedder (Halcyon Printing superintendent), soprano
Mrs. Carby (Halcyon Printing assistant), contralto
Lucy (Marnie’s Mother’s neighbour), soprano
Little Boy (at Marnie’s Mother’s house), boy soprano
Derek, tenor
Chorus (Office workers, Anxiety chorus, Hunt riders, Country Club guests, Funeral attendees, Marnie’s other personae)
SYNOPSIS
Set in late 1950s England, Winston Graham’s novel was immortalised by the Hitchcock movie, which, despite its changes to a number of features of the original, restored in Nico Muhly’s opera, is the prism through which we inevitably see the action. Marnie is a deeply troubled young woman robbing from her employers and changing identity to stay one jump ahead of the law. She is eventually found out by Mark who, threatening to expose her crime, forces her into an initially loveless marriage but has the power to make her confront a past of which her damaged life has been the result.
Scores
Act I
Act II
Vocal Score
Features
- Spotlight on Nico Muhly
- Explore Nico Muhly's expansive and varied catalogue as we put his work under the spotlight.
Reviews
More Info
- German Premiere of Marnie by Nico Muhly
- 21st December 2022
- The opera Marnie by Nico Muhly, with a libretto by Nicholas Wright, receives its German premiere at the Theater Freiburg on January 14.