The Dracula Diary


THE DRACULA DIARY

An Opera Macabre
Music by Robert Moran
Libretto by James Skofield

The opera was commissioned by BMG/RCA for
6 singers and 6 instruments; the recording was released
in October 1994 after its world premiere at
Houston Grand Opera, March 18, 1994

.
Although the numerous characters were taken by the six singers, a further production can have a much greater variety of singers and parts.



Monk/The Tenor/Menippus.............................................................................tenor
The Impresario..............................................................................................baritone
The Confessor/Singing Master/Doctor/Apparition..............................bass-baritone
Angela/Nemesis.............................................................................................soprano
The Mother Superior/Female Courtier/Maid/Zorina/Party Guests...mezzo soprano
Male Courtier/Party Guest...................................................................bass- baritone

Chamber Ensemble:
flute/piccolo,  violin/viola, percussion,
three keyboard synthesizers

The duration of the work is approximately 80 minutes.

In preparation:  

THE DRACULA DIARY
for orchestra

3 flutes (doubling on 3 piccolos), 2 oboes (one doubling on
English horn), 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon,
3 trumpets (in C), 4 horns, 2 trombones, l bass trombone, tuba
1 keyboard synthesizer, harp, strings

Percussion l:  3 timpani, 3 timbales, glass wind chimes
Percussion 2:  vibraphone, bass drum, large tam, triangle,
snare drum, suspended car coil (hit with hammer)
Percussion 3:  2 timpani, marimbaphone, 3 wood blocks, bowed auto-harp
(with cello bow),  3 suspended cymbals

In preparation:

THE DRACULA DIARY
for orchestra

3 flutes (doubling on 3 piccolos), 2 oboes (one doubling on
English horn), 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon,
3 trumpets (in C), 4 horns, 2 trombones, l bass trombone, tuba
1 keyboard synthesizer, harp, strings

Percussion l:  3 timpani, 3 timbales, glass wind chimes
Percussion 2:  vibraphone, bass drum, large tam, triangle,
snare drum, suspended car coil (hit with hammer)
Percussion 3:  2 timpani, marimbaphone, 3 wood blocks, bowed auto-harp
(with cello bow),  3 suspended cymbals