The Name on the Door (2010)
A Chamber Opera
Duration: 15:00
Libretto adapted from the King James Bible and with original text by Michael Oberhauser
Cast:
Jezebel - soprano - an "aging" pop star - nearly 40
Josephine - soprano - a young pop star
Eli - baritone - their agent
Instrumentation: a) Bb clarinet, 2 violas, cello, piano
b) Bb clarinet, 2 violas, piano
c) Bb clarinet, violin, viola, piano
d) piano
Setting: Jezebel's dressing room, before a performance
Duration: 15:00
Libretto adapted from the King James Bible and with original text by Michael Oberhauser
Cast:
Jezebel - soprano - an "aging" pop star - nearly 40
Josephine - soprano - a young pop star
Eli - baritone - their agent
Instrumentation: a) Bb clarinet, 2 violas, cello, piano
b) Bb clarinet, 2 violas, piano
c) Bb clarinet, violin, viola, piano
d) piano
Setting: Jezebel's dressing room, before a performance
This piece is now also available as an extended concert aria for soprano and piano!
Duration: 9:00
Program Notes
The Name on the Door is the first in the set of the Fallen Angels operas. It tells the story of the fall of Jezebel, but it is set in the current day. This Jezebel is an aging pop star ("nearly fourty," as is said in the libretto) who is coming to terms with being replaced by a younger woman both in her career and in her love life. The opera deals with our concept of aging and how it might be slightly more strict for performers, especially in the pop music world.
The opera starts with three arioso sections back to back to back: First Jezebel, then Eli, then Jezebel again sing of their physical love for each other. This text is mostly taken directly from Song of Songs from the King James Bible. Josephine enters, and the sultry mood is immediately changed. The lines are shorter and more angular, the accompaniment more sparse.
Josephine leaves, and a brief argument happens between Jezebel and Eli. Eli tries to comfort Jezebel with his arietta "Jezebel, you know how these things work," but it is evident that he isn't sincere with what he's saying. Eli leaves, and Jezebel has a moment to reflect on what has just happened. The music from Eli's arietta is twisted and used as Jezebel's accompaniment.
Josephine and Eli are then seen together somewhere else. They repeat the music of Jezebel and Eli's love scene, while Jezebel continues to reflect on her fate. Jezebel puts on make-up as she gets ready to become her stage persona - for the last time, she decides. "Tomorrow, I can start again - be someone new - and none will say 'This was Jezebel.'"
The opera starts with three arioso sections back to back to back: First Jezebel, then Eli, then Jezebel again sing of their physical love for each other. This text is mostly taken directly from Song of Songs from the King James Bible. Josephine enters, and the sultry mood is immediately changed. The lines are shorter and more angular, the accompaniment more sparse.
Josephine leaves, and a brief argument happens between Jezebel and Eli. Eli tries to comfort Jezebel with his arietta "Jezebel, you know how these things work," but it is evident that he isn't sincere with what he's saying. Eli leaves, and Jezebel has a moment to reflect on what has just happened. The music from Eli's arietta is twisted and used as Jezebel's accompaniment.
Josephine and Eli are then seen together somewhere else. They repeat the music of Jezebel and Eli's love scene, while Jezebel continues to reflect on her fate. Jezebel puts on make-up as she gets ready to become her stage persona - for the last time, she decides. "Tomorrow, I can start again - be someone new - and none will say 'This was Jezebel.'"
Score (clarinet, violin, viola, piano version)
Recording
Recording Information
Clarinet, violin, viola, piano version
12 November, 2011 - The Artist's Inn Residence
Washington, DC
Jezebel - Sarah Philippa
Josephine - Caitlin Budny
Eli - Joshua Brown
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - Le Polites
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - Kayme Henkel
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
12 November, 2011 - The Artist's Inn Residence
Washington, DC
Jezebel - Sarah Philippa
Josephine - Caitlin Budny
Eli - Joshua Brown
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - Le Polites
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - Kayme Henkel
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
Premiere
Clarinet, two viola, piano version
4 June, 2010 - The Artist's Inn Residence
Washington, DC
Jezebel - Sarah Philippa
Josephine - Katherine Sanford
Eli - Joshua Brown
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Viola I - Henry Valoris
Viola II - Elizabeth O'Hara
Piano - Yufen Chou
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
4 June, 2010 - The Artist's Inn Residence
Washington, DC
Jezebel - Sarah Philippa
Josephine - Katherine Sanford
Eli - Joshua Brown
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Viola I - Henry Valoris
Viola II - Elizabeth O'Hara
Piano - Yufen Chou
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
Fringe Festival 2012 Version
Recorded July 28, 2012
Produced by the Silver Finch Arts Collective
Jezebel - Annie Gill
Eli - Bennett Umhau
Josephine - Zoe Kanter
Flute - Julianne Martinelli
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - John Philligin
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - William Yanesh
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
Jezebel - Annie Gill
Eli - Bennett Umhau
Josephine - Zoe Kanter
Flute - Julianne Martinelli
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - John Philligin
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - William Yanesh
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
Other Performances
Opera On Tap DC's New Works Fest 2015 - 15 November, 2015 - The Pinch, Washington, DC
Elizabeth Mondragon Goff, Jezebel.
Elizabeth Mondragon Goff, Jezebel.