Alberto Caruso composer

THE MASTER

libretto by

COLM TÓIBÍN

music by

ALBERTO CARUSO

http://www.colmtoibin.com/

Colm ToibinColm Tóibín is the author of ten novels, including The Magician, winner of the Rathbones Folio Prize; The Master, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Brooklyn, winner of the Costa Book Award; The Testament of Mary; and Nora Webster, as well as two story collections and several books of criticism. He is the Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University and has been named as the Laureate for Irish Fiction for 2022–2024 by the Arts Council of Ireland. Three times shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Tóibín lives in Dublin and New York.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Colm-Toibin/1760537

WORLD PREMIERE

WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA

2022

Thomas Birch (Henry James) and Chris Mosz (Tito the gondolier)

Annabella Vesela Ellis (Constance Fenimore Woolson)

From Left to right:

Annabella Vesela Ellis (Constance Fenimore Woolson),

Arlene Belli (Lady Wolseley) and Gabriel Seawright (Mr Webster)

Thomas Birch (Henry James) and James Wafer (Oliver Wendell Holmes)

Photos by Pádraig Grant

REVIEWS

“Caruso Successfully Transforms Tóibín’s Novel About Henry James Into An Opera…”

▶︎ Alan Neilson, Opera Wire

“The libretto by Irish author Colm Tóibín was frighteningly powerful …”

▶︎ Gerald Malone, Reaction

“I'm not stoned, I'm just writing an opera!”

▶︎ Colm Tóibín, The Guardian

Interview: “Colm Tóibín: The new master of opera”

▶︎ Pavel Barter, The Sunday Times

“Colm Tóibín's story couched in moving music

as Henry James confronts his unlived life.”

“Caruso himself plays the piano score live and also directs the singers from his stool, an impressive feat over the 105 minutes …”

▶︎ Katy Hayes, The Independent

“… Caruso brought the full character of the score to light in his piano playing ...”

“… everything that was needed to draw you in was there in the singing, in the beautiful period costume design, in the excellent choreography and direction by Conor Hanratty...”

▶︎ Noel Megahey, Opera Journal

“… There's a wonderful lullaby in the middle of the opera, sung by the maid as she tries to get Alice James to sleep. It's an incredibly beautiful, stand-alone lullaby.”

▶︎ Colm Tóibín to John Allison, Opera Magazine UK

▶︎ CREATIVE TEAM and CAST 2022

CREATIVE TEAM

Music Director: Alberto Caruso

Stage Director: Conor Hanratty

Set & Costume Designer: Lisa Krugel

Lightning Designer: Paddy McLaughlin

Artistic Director: Rosetta Cucchi

CAST

Henry James: Thomas Birch

Constance Fenimore Woolson: Annabella Vesela Ellis

Hammond, Oliver Wendell Holmes: James Wafer

William James, Edmund Gosse: Lawrence Gillians

Johnston the butler: Andrii Kharlamov

Hendrik Christian Andersen: Dan D'Souza

Alice James: Isabel Araujo

Alice Gibbens James: Anna Gregg

Mrs Edward Saker: Zita Syme

Maud Howe Elliott: Emma Walsh

Lady Louisa Wolseley: Arlene Belli

Miss Katharine Loring: Dominica Williams

Mr Webster: Gabriel Seawright

Mr Smith: Stephen Walker

Tito the gondolier: Chris Mosz

Ensemble: Emma Jüngling, Deirdre Higgins

From left to right: Alberto Caruso, Conor Hanratty, Colm Tóibín

From left to right: Lisa Krugel, Colm Tóibín, Alberto Caruso, Conor Hanratty, Paddy McLaughlin

WORKSHOP

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

BOULDER

2014

▶︎ CREATIVE TEAM and CAST 2014

CREATIVE TEAM

Vocal Coach, Accompanist: Robert Spillman

Conductor: Joshua Horsch

Stage Director: Ron Daniels

Artistic Director: Leigh Holman

Associate Artistic Director: Patrick Mason

CAST

Henry James: Max Hosmer

Constance Fenimore Woolson: Kristyn Christman-McCarty

Alice James, William's wife / Mrs. Saker / Maud Howe Elliott: Rebecca Kidnie

William James / Edmund Gosse: Wei Wu

Mr. Webster / Mr. Smith / McAlpine / Tito: Charles Daniel

Flora / Alice: Adara Towler

Hammond / Hendrik Christian Andersen: James Held

Lady Wolseley / The Governess / Miss Loring: Taylor Raven

From left to right: Colm Tóibín, Ron Daniels, Alberto Caruso

Venezia, Palazzo Semitecolo

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