Summer
Opera in Two Acts
Music by Stephen Paulus
Libretto by Joan Vail Thorne
After the novella by Edith Wharton
A passionate tale of society, nature and human needs, Summer is a sultry and soul-stirring
work. The early 1900s setting is the small town of North Dormer, larger neighboring town of
Nettleton and surroundings in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. This opera tells a
sensual and painful tale of a young woman, Charity Royall, her secret suitor, Lucius Harney,
and her love-worn sponsor and admirer, Lawyer Royall, in a poignant summer love story.
Reviews and Articles
Exerpted Arias from Summer
Cast of Characters
Principal Roles
CHARITY ROYALL
(Mezzo Soprano) 18; a passionate, sensuous spirit trapped in the small town
of North Dormer
LUCIUS HARNEY
(Baritone) Mid 20s; Charity's lover; a young architect from the city
LAWYER ROYALL
(Bass/Baritone) Mid 50's; Charity's guardian; a rough man of deep feeling
Supporting Roles
LIFF HYATT
(Baritone) 20s; Charity's cousin; a crude laborer from the degenerate
Mountain people
MISS HATCHARD
(Soprano) Late 60s; an excitable maiden lady; proper and traditional
VERENA MARSH
(Mezzo Soprano) Late 60s; Mr. Royall's simple, hard-of-hearing housekeeper
ALLY HAWES
(Soprano) 20; Charity's school friend; a seamstress; sweet and simple
REVEREND MILES
(Tenor) Mid 40s; the minister from the town of Nettleton and Miss Harchard's friend
ANNABEL BALCH
(Soprano) Mid 20s; Lucius's fiancée; a sophisticated woman of charm and privilege
Double
ALLY HAWES Bash Hyatt's Woman, 2nd Nettleton Woman
ANNABEL BALCH Prostitute
LIFF HYATT Bash Hyatt, 2nd Nettleton Man
MISS HATCHARD Nettleton Woman
REVEREND MILES Nettleton Man
VERENA MARSH Old Hyatt Woman, Nettleton Girl
SUMMER
Instrumentation
Duration: Two Hours
2 Flutes
1 Oboe
2 Bb Clarinets
1 Bassoon
2 Horns in F
1 Trumpet in C
1 Tenor/Bass Trombone
Timpani
2 Percussion
Harp
Strings (6-5-3-3-1)
World Premiere Performances
August 28 and 31, 1999
September 2 and 4, 1999
Berkshire Opera Company
15th Anniversary Celebration
Koussevitsky Arts Center
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Conductor, Joel Revzen
Stage Director, Mary Duncan
Scenic Designer, David P. Gordon
Production Designer, Jan Hartley
Lighting Designer, Michael Lincoln
Costume Designer, Helen E. Rodgers
Berkshire Opera Company
297 North Street
Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 USA
Tel: (413) 443 1234 - Fax: (413) 443 3030
email:info@berkop.org
Commissioned by
Berkshire Opera Company
Sanford H. Fisher, General Director
Joel Revzen, Artistic Director and
Edith Wharton Restoration
Additional Commissioning Support provided by
National Endowment for the Arts, Kenneth and Julia Dayton, Jonas and Elizabeth
Dovydenas, Ginger and George Elvin, Robin G. and Sharon M. Holloway, Ruth Landfield,
J. Murray Logan, Joan Mannion and Monte Engler, Tucker and Thorne Taylor
Premiere Cast
(In Order of Appearance)
CHARITY ROYALL - Margaret Lattimore
LIFF HYATT - Matthew Lau
LUCIUS HARNEY - Michael Chioldi
MISS HATCHARD - Joanna Johnston
LAWYER ROYALL - John Cheek
VERENA MARSH - Emily Lodine
ALLY HAWES - Jane Jennings
REVEREND MILES - Mark Schowalter
ANNABEL BALCH - Michaela Gurevich
