Chamber Operas: small stage — big impact

Posted by Universal Music Publishing Classical on 02 December 2020

Small stage — big impact: We have culled through our catalogs to share theater works for reduced instrumental forces with you. This selection of works, both new and old, is intended to help you program for small or unorthodox stages, outdoor venues or unstaged concert performances. It is our hope that each of the following works will deliver dramatic impact, regardless of size.

This selection of theater works is divided into the following categories based on instrumental forces rather than vocal requirements: up to 9 players, 10-14 players, 15-19 players, and 20-30 players.

Please contact your local Classics & Screen office or agent for further information about any of the listed works.

Highlights

Up to 9 instrumentalists

Chamber Operas illustration

Michael Gordon

Acquanetta (2005, rev. 2017)
text by Deborah Artman
3S.T.B - Chr(S.A) - e-git.key.vl.vla.vc.db
Duration: 70'

László Vidovszky

Narziss und Echo (1981)
Opera in one act, in 21 scenes
S.A.T.B - Chr (S.S.A) - cl.tpt.perc.vl.vc.pf
Duration: 24'

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10-14 instrumentalists

Chamber Operas illustration

Kevin Puts

Elizabeth Cree (2017)
One Act Opera
S.3Ms.3T.3Bar.Bbar.B - fl(picc).ob.cl(Eb cl).bsn(cbsn).hn.tr.btrb.2perc.pf/synth.hp.str
Duration: 90'

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Philip Venables

4.48 Psychosis (2016)
A chamber opera in one act, after Sarah Kane
3S.3Ms - afl(picc).3ssax(3barsax).2perc.pf(synth).acc.tape.vl(vla).2vla.db
Duration: 90'

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15-19 instrumentalists

Chamber Operas illustration

Pascal Dusapin

Passion (2006-2007)
S.B - Chr (2S.A.T.B.B) - 1.2.2.1 - 1.1.1.0 - hpsch.key(MIDI).hp.oud - 1.1.1.1.1
Duration: 85'

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Isidora Žebeljan

Maratonci. Eine Marathone Familie (2008)
Oper in einem Akt und 14 Szenen
Act.S.Ms.2T.2Bar.B - 1(picc).1(ca,ocarina).2(I ebcl, II bcl/ocarina).1(cbsn) - 1.2.0.1 - perc.theremin.cimb.pf. - 1.1.1.1.1
Duration: 90'

20-30 instrumentalists

Chamber Operas illustration

Salvatore Sciarrino

Hèctor Parra

WILDE (2014-2015)
2S.Ms.CT.T.B - Act(silent) - 2.2.2.2 - 2.2.2.1 - 2perc.hp – str
Duration: 120'

Up to 9 instrumentalists

If you are in search of the perfect theater work for the smallest venues or video capturing resources, browse this category to see the possibilities.

Georges Aperghis

Histoire de loups (1976)
opera, continuous action
5femVx.3malVx.4Bar - 1.0.2.0 - 0.0.0.0 - 2perc.pf - 0.0.0.2.1
Duration: 135'

Work info (French) View score

Liebestod (1981)
opera-concert
4S.4MS.Sp - 0.0.2.0 - 1.0.0.0 - 2perc.pf - 0.0.0.2.1
Duration: 75'

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l’Écharpe rouge (1984)
2femVx.3malVx.Chr.Act - 0.0.0.0 - 0.0.0.0 - 3Perc.2Pf - 0.0.0.0.0
Duration: 170'

View clip about the WP View score

Ali N. Askin

the killer in me is the killer in you my love (2015)
S.Ms.T.Bar.Act - pf(key).e-git.perc(dr).sampler.vla.vc.db(e-bass)
Duration: 75'

View trailer View score

Máté Balogh
Diana Soh
Christian Fleury

Out at S.E.A. 123 (2013)
Chamber opera in one act, based on Slawomir Mrozek's play entitled Out at Sea
Ms.T.B - cl(bcl).vla.vc
Duration: 50'

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Nikolaus Brass

Sommertag (2013)
Chamber music theatre for 5 vocalists and 6 instrumentalists
2S.Ms.T.B.Mime - cl(bcl).perc.acc.vl.vla.db
Duration: 100'

View trailer View score

Pascal Dusapin

To Be Sung (1992-1993)
3S.Sp - tape - 1.1.1.0 - 0.1.1.0 - 0.0.0.1.1
Duration: 70'

View trailer View score

José Evangelista

La Porte (1987)
monodrama
S - perc
Duration: 45'

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Reinhard Febel

Morde in Bildern: 1. Frida (2005)
(Three chamber operas based on paintings)
A dream scene after "Unos quantos piquetitos" by Frida Kahlo
Music theatre for three voices and ensemble
S(Sp).Bar(Sp).Sp - fl(picc/bfl).2(bcl).perc.vl.vla.vc
Duration: 20'

Michael Gordon

Acquanetta (2005, rev. 2017)
text by Deborah Artman
3S.T.B - Chr(S.A) - e-git.key.vl.vla.vc.db
Duration: 70'

View trailer

What to Wear (2005)
text by Richard Foreman
2S.A.T - Chr(S.A) - 2key.perc.e-git.dr.2vl.db (all amplified)
Duration: 65'

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Van Gogh (1991)
text by Michael Gordon, based on letters by Van Gogh
S.T.Bar - cl(bcl).perc.e-gtr.pf.vl.vla.vc.db
Duration: 63'

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Georg Friedrich Haas

Thomas (2013)
Opera with a libretto by Händl Klaus
2S.Ms.2Ct.T.Bar.B - zither.2git.hp.mand.acc.2perc.cem
Duration: 100'
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Huang Ruo

Bound (2014)
Opera in one act
S.Ms.Bbar - fl.cl.trb.pf.vl.vc.Dan Bau and Dan Tranh (or pipa)
Duration: 60'

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Marcel Landowski

P'tit Pierre et la Sorcière du placard aux balais (1983)
Vx(child).S.Ms.Bar.B - Chr(children) - 7 players - tape
Duration: 55'

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David Lang

the loser (2016)
text by David Lang, based on a novel by Thomas Bernhard
Bar - pf solo - perc.vla.vc.db
Duration: 60'

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anatomy theater (2016)
text by Mark Dion & David Lang
Ms.T.Bar - fl(picc).cl(bcl).tpt.perc.pf(acc).vl.vla.vc.db
Duration: 75'

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whisper opera (2013)
text by David Lang
S - fl.cl.perc.vc
Duration: 60'

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Tod Machover

Valis (1987)
6Vx - hyperper.hyperkey.tape
Duration: 90'

Listen to clip View score

Philippe Manoury

La Frontière (2002)
chamber opera in 4 tableaux
6Vx - 1.1.0.0 - 0.0.0.0 - perc.key(MIDI) - 1.1.1.1.1
Duration: 90'

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Francois Meïmoun

Mews songs (2016)
3Vx - 2cl.4perc.2cb
Duration: 80'

Koka Nikoladze
Samu Gryllus
Mariana Ungureanu

Out at S.E.A. 456 (2013)
Chamber opera in one act, based on Slawomir Mrozek's play entitled Out at Sea
Ms.T.B - cl(bcl).vla.vc
Duration: 55'

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Marcello Panni

Hanjo (chamber version) (1993/2016)
Opera in un atto after Hanjo by Yukio Mishima. Libretto by the Composer
S.C.B - picc/fl.ebcl/cl/bcl.perc.pf.vl.vc
Duration: 47'

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Ionel Petroï

Dix scènes d’exercice de conversation
chamber opera
6Vx - 5players
Duration: 40'

Joseph Phibbs

Juliana (2017)
A chamber opera
S.Ms.Bar – fl.cl.perc.hp.2vl.vc.db
Duration: 75'

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Enno Poppe

Arbeit Nahrung Wohnung (2006-2007)
Stage music for 14 men
Ct.T.Bar.B - 4perc.4key(pf)
Duration: 100'

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Claude Prey

Théatrophonie (1971)
12Vx - pf
Duration: 50'

Les Liaisons dangereuses (1974)
5Vx - hpsch.pf.cel.org.hp
Duration: 130'

On veut la lumière ? Allons-y (1968-1969)
musical fantasy by Claude Prey
Ms.2T.Bar.B - fl.hn.perc.pf.org(elec).hp.vl.vc.cb
Duration:

Michele Reverdy

la Nuit qui suivit notre dernier dîner (1984)
pocket opera
Vx - fl.pf.vc
Duration: 20'