One proposed costume design for the opera’s heroine …Opera World is abuzz since the announcement of a new work by Philip Glass, inspired by the life of a famous American mezzo-soprano, whose name the composer refuses to divulge. Who can she be?
The mystery could hardly be more exciting, and everyone wants to be the lucky lady. Can you imagine a more wonderful prize than a brand-new Philip Glass opera entirely about you? I can’t!
Thus far, I’ve been unable to learn the identity of Glass’ muse. However, I have managed to get my hands on a copy of the libretto to the new opera, entitled Suzyagraha, which I reprint here in its three-act entirety.
Maybe we’ll find some clues here. If you think you’ve found the solution, let me know.
… and here’s one more proposed costume design.
SUZYAGRAHA
An Opera in Three Acts
by
Philip Glass
Libretto by the Composer
SETTING: Morning. A New York City apartment, home to a SINGER who is returning from a long recital tour.
The curtain rises. The SINGER enters, begins to unpack her suitcase. While she does so, she sings to herself.
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
A small BIRD appears at the window and begins to sing along.
The BIRD flies away.
The dancing chorus
ACT II
SETTING: Afternoon. The same.
The SINGER removes from her suitcase a blouse which she doesn’t remember buying. She reads aloud the washing instructions, while an UNSEEN CHORUS echoes her words.
No use blanqueador, no remoje,
Seca sobre superficie plana,
Plancha frio, si se necesite!
No use blanqueador, no remoje,
Seca sobre superficie plana,
Plancha frio, si se necesite!
Now a DANCING CHORUS enters, while the OFFSTAGE CHORUS sings a poem in medieval Sanskirt describing peace in the moonlight, love under the jasmine blossoms, and a terrific recipe for chapatis just like Mamaji used to make.
[Text TK.]
The SINGER still doesn’t remember buying the blouse. She shrugs.
The SINGER’S FRIEND has come over to watch a movie on TV: entitled Vacances 1937, it is the only film by Jean Cocteau to which Glass has not written a score, and it depicts the famous French artist on holiday in Brittany.
While watching, the FRIEND sits upright in a straight-back chair, while the SINGER moves very slowly around the room, broadly sweeping the air with a large fluorescent tube.
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle dum!
The mystery could hardly be more exciting, and everyone wants to be the lucky lady. Can you imagine a more wonderful prize than a brand-new Philip Glass opera entirely about you? I can’t!
Thus far, I’ve been unable to learn the identity of Glass’ muse. However, I have managed to get my hands on a copy of the libretto to the new opera, entitled Suzyagraha, which I reprint here in its three-act entirety.
Maybe we’ll find some clues here. If you think you’ve found the solution, let me know.
… and here’s one more proposed costume design.SUZYAGRAHA
An Opera in Three Acts
by
Philip Glass
Libretto by the Composer
ACT I
SETTING: Morning. A New York City apartment, home to a SINGER who is returning from a long recital tour.
The curtain rises. The SINGER enters, begins to unpack her suitcase. While she does so, she sings to herself.
SINGER
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
A small BIRD appears at the window and begins to sing along.
BIRD
Peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep!SINGER
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!SINGER and BIRD (Unison)
Deedle de peep deedle de peep deedle de peep deedle de peep deedle de peep deedle de peep deedle de peep !The BIRD flies away.
SINGER
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
The dancing chorusACT II
SETTING: Afternoon. The same.
The SINGER removes from her suitcase a blouse which she doesn’t remember buying. She reads aloud the washing instructions, while an UNSEEN CHORUS echoes her words.
SINGER
Lava separadamente a mano con agua tibia,No use blanqueador, no remoje,
Seca sobre superficie plana,
Plancha frio, si se necesite!
UNSEEN CHORUS
Lava separadamente a mano con agua tibia,No use blanqueador, no remoje,
Seca sobre superficie plana,
Plancha frio, si se necesite!
Now a DANCING CHORUS enters, while the OFFSTAGE CHORUS sings a poem in medieval Sanskirt describing peace in the moonlight, love under the jasmine blossoms, and a terrific recipe for chapatis just like Mamaji used to make.
[Text TK.]
The SINGER still doesn’t remember buying the blouse. She shrugs.
SINGER
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!ACT III
SETTING: Evening. The same.
SETTING: Evening. The same.
The SINGER’S FRIEND has come over to watch a movie on TV: entitled Vacances 1937, it is the only film by Jean Cocteau to which Glass has not written a score, and it depicts the famous French artist on holiday in Brittany.
While watching, the FRIEND sits upright in a straight-back chair, while the SINGER moves very slowly around the room, broadly sweeping the air with a large fluorescent tube.
SINGER and FRIEND
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!FLUORESCENT TUBE
Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz!SINGER and FRIEND
Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!Deedle de deedle de deedle de deedle de!
Deedle dum!
FLUORESCENT TUBE
Pop!CURTAIN
Design for Act III.
Design for Act III.
2 comments:
Disappointed. I thought this would be based on the Suzy mythic cycle and would reach a climax when she and her bf wake up in the theater to find everybody else has departed out of stupefying boredom, leaving them in trouble hot just as the curtain falls. Then, in the last act ...
Wow, John, are you sure that was the libretto to a Glass opera? Sounds awfully plotty to me!
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