Steven M. Allen
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The Dunbar Operas

The Dunbar Operas

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Cast of Characters

Paul Laurence Dunbar – Bass Baritone
6 - 8 Boys – Cambiata
Matilda Dunbar {Paul’s mother} – Mezzo
Major James Pond {Paul’s Manager} – Tenor
Alice Ruth Moore – Soprano
Leila Wright {Alice’s Sister} – Soprano
Patricia Wright Moore {Alice’s Mother} – Mezzo
Victoria Matthews – Mezzo
Virginia Boudreaux - Coloratura
12 – 16 Mixed Voices {Party Guests}
Booker T. Washington – Basso
W.E. B. Dubois – Tenor

Act I

1. Prelude
2. A Boys’ Summer – {ensemble}
3. The Majors and Minors’ Review – {trio}
4. A Letter to Alice – {arioso}
5. Do You Call That a Mistake – {duet}
6. Violets and Other Tales – {arioso}
7. Sister, Sister – {duet}
8. Victoria Darling – {quartet}
9. Yours Very Truly – {aria}
10. A Lyric – {duet}
11. I Am Sincerely Yours – {aria}
12. A Poem for Alice – {trio}
13. I Could Learn to Love Him – {aria}

Act II

14. Till The Wind Gets Right – {aria}
15. News From London – {duet}
16. When Malindy Sings – {trio}
17. Matilda’s Aria
18. When Malindy Sings - {reprise}
19. New Orleans Stride - {ensemble}
20. Alterations - {duet}
21. Patricia’s Lament - {aria}
22. Dear Child, Just Leave it to Me – {trio}
23. The Party – {ensemble}
24. The Poet – {aria}
25. In The Parlor with Washington, DuBois and Dunbar – {trio}
26. We Wear The Mask – {trio, chorus}
27. Thou Art My Lute – {duet}
28. I Could Learn to Love Him – {reprise}

Orchestration

Flute/Piccolo
Oboe/English Horn
Clarinets in Bb and A/Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Horn in F
Trumpet in Bb
Harp
Strings

Duration: 2:25

Summary Scenes and Highlights
 
 
 
 

Painting by David A. Shelton

Scenes

  1. Prelude

  2. The Poet – {aria}

  3. A Boys’ Summer – {ensemble}

  4. Majors and Minors’ Review – {trio}

  5. A Letter to Alice – {arioso}

  6. Do You Call That a Mistake? – {duet}

  7. Yours Very Truly – {aria}

  8. A Lyric – {duet}

  9. I Am Sincerely Yours – {aria}

  10. ‘Till The Wind Gets Right – {aria}

  11. News From London – {trio}

  12. When Malindy Sings – {quartet}

  13. Matilda’s aria

  14. When Malindy Sings - {reprise}

  15. I Could Learn to Love Him – {aria}

Cast of Characters

Paul Laurence Dunbar, Bass-Baritone
Matilda Dunbar, Mezzo-Soprano
Major James Pond, Tenor
Alice Ruth Moore, Soprano
6 Boys, Cambiata

Instrumentation

Flute, Clarinet in B-flat, Bass Clarinet, Piano, Violin, Viola, Violoncello, 
Double Bass

Duration: 1:20

 

The Poet's Playbill
The Poet Premiere
 
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Scenes

1. Prelude
2. Violets and Other Tales {Arioso}
3. Sister, Sister {Duet}
4. Victoria, Darling! {Quartet}
5. It’s Not Easy Being Me! {Aria / Ensemble}
6. Yours Very Truly {Arioso}
7. A Lyric {Aria}

Cast of Characters

Alice Ruth Moore, Soprano
Mary Lela Wright, Soprano
Victoria Matthews, Coloratura
Patricia Wright, Mezzo-Soprano

Instrumentation

Flute, Clarinet in B-flat, Bass Clarinet, Piano, Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass

Duration 40 Minutes