Music by Robert Moran and Philip Glass Libretto by Arthur Yorinks
THE WIFE: Jayne West, soprano THE HUSBAND: Sanford Sylvan, baritone THE SON/JUNIPER BIRD: Lynn Torgove, soprano THE STEPMOTHER: Valerie Walters, mezzo-soprano HER DAUGHTER: Janet Brown, soprano THE GOLDSMTIH: David Stoneman, baritone THE COBBLER: Thomas Derrah, tenor THE MILLER: William Cotten, tenor VILLAGE FOLK: Chorus The Juniper Tree Opera Orchestra Conducted by Richard Pittmann
Сontents: Act I 01. Glass - Prologue (00:00) 02. Moran - Scene 1 (17:01) 03. Moran - Scene 2 (29:40) 04. Glass - Scene 3 (42:44) 05. Glass - Bird Song (46:18) 06. Moran - Epilogue (48:27) Act II 07. Glass - Scene 1 (51:45) 08. Moran - Interlude (59:32) 09. Moran - Scene 2 (61:52) 10. Moran - Final Scene-Trio (69:04) ___________________________________________
Libretto:
Prologue
In the darkness there is the sound of a bird. It is faint; but it grows louder as the stage gets brighter to reveal a country house, which is occupied by a wealthy landowner and his wife. They have no children. It is autumn and the landscape is rich and rolling.. In the foreground there is a juniper tree. Morning arrives. The bird, singing, is now joined by the higher-pitched sound of baby birds. They are in the juniper tree. At the window of the house the landowner’s wife appears. The birds are singing:
Mama Bird: pa pa pa pa….etc. Baby Birds: pa pa pa pa ……etc. Wife (from the window) Come here to me my hungry ones… Baby Birds: ma ma ma ma….can we eat, Mama? We are hungry. Where is food, Mama? Where is Papa? Can we eat, we’re starving- Wife: My darlings, I’ll get you some food…. Mama Bird: Don’t listen to her-she thinks you’re her babies. She’s crazy! Baby Birds: But she always gives us apples, Mama- Wife: Where are you, my babies? you’ll be late- Baby Birds: Come find us. We’re hiding! Wife: you’ll be late for school. Come now, kiss mama, give her a hug… Baby Birds: Kiss, Mama, kiss and hug her…. Wife: You are my pride and joy, each of you. daughter, how big you are. And your brother, what a rascal. And my baby son, so quiet; I know your heart is full..and some day, you’ll remember, me and how much I love you…. (The husband appears in the doorway of the house. He is carrying a gun, ready to go hunting) Wife: Now come quick, you’ll be late- Husband: Ah my wife, what are you saying? Wife: The children, they’ll be late for school- (The husband goes to her) Birds: pa-pa-pa-, etc. Husband: There are no children here… Wife: But…..NO! Husband: (gently) They are only birds…Why don’t yo come inside, it’s getting cold. A fire will warm you. Wife: I will soon. Wife (as duet with Husband): I can’t stop from thinking. Each day passes and hope dwindles. Yet, we have each other. And all we share must come to fruit. What spring arises where no winter breathes- what food will grow if now hunger seethes…. Husband: I know what you’re thinking. We must have faith. We have so much and each other; still, I feel it too. The emptiness lingers; how cold the barren limbs-all twisted and knotted and stiff- but here, an evergreen stands; and a forest calls to me- Husband: I’ll bring you back the largest rabbit in the forest. We’ll have a feast. Wife: Broiled beast! Husband: I’ll be back. Be well my treasure- (he departs; the wife goes over to the juniper tree and sits beneath it. She stares at an apple) Wife: What riches we have, and no mouths to feed… (a gunshot is heard. Startled, she accidentally cuts her finger with the knife she was holding) Why can’t there be a child as red as this blood and white as this snow? I feel better now-how life churns! (She goes into the house) **** The seasons pass. The wife is pregnant, in her eighth month. Wife: Oh dear husband, when I die you will bury me beneath the juniper. Husband: You will outlive me and this old tree, you’ll see. **** The Wife dies at child-birth, leaving her husband with a new baby boy. Husband: No, no….it can’t be now-you can’t leave me…not now, not now, it cannot be….
End of Prologue Musical Interlude (connoting the years passing and the turn of events)
Act One, Scene l It is some years later and time has soothed the landowner’s grief. He has taken another wife and has had a daughter by her. Together with his son they all live in the house by the juniper tree. Everything is as it was except for the placement of a small headstone that tilts to one side underneath the juniper tree. On it simply reads : “Beloved Ida” A summer breeze blows. The son is under the tree reading a book. Father is coming home from a trip. As the step-mother and daughter approach from the house to greet him the son notices his father and runs to him. Son: Papa, Papa! Husband: My boy, I swear you’ve grown. I can barely lift you. I hope the horse I bought for you can hold you. Son: A horse? Where is he, Papa? Can I ride him now? Is he fast? Can I see him? Husband; You should ask you mother. (to his wife) Hello my dear, how’s our daughter? Son: Mother, can I- Mother:…(to the boy) Look at you, how filthy. I told you to stay away from that tree. If you want to read, stay in your room. Son: but…. Mother: Anne, come take father inside, he must be tired and thirsty from his long trip (the daughter takes her father by the hand and they go into the house; the Son accidentally bumps into the Step-mother) Out of my way! You are always where I am. Now fetch me some water. The garden must be as hot as I am- Now go! (The Son runs into the house) He is just a boy. He is not so bad. But ….but…he must look like her. He must remind him of her. She has risen and taken his form. He must still love her, not me or my daughter. My girl should have his fortune, not him. He’s dead…No! What am I saying? She’s dead, he’s just a little boy, a little boy. But ….but…..it’s her! It must be so! Her eyes! Her hair! I’m sure of it!…but she’s not here, he is. He is always here and there, always here and there (the boy runs in with water. He spills it on her. ) Aaaachhhhhh! (she screams, a steam rises from her. The child is terrified). Lights…..and end of the scene.
Scene Two It is another day. Autumn. The son is at school while the step-mother and daughter are upstairs in the house. The step-mother is brushing her daughter’s hair . )
Mother: You are so lovely. Perhaps you are the most beautiful child in the world… Daughter: Can we eat, Mama? I’m hungry. Where is Papa? Can I have an apple? Mother: Your father will be home soon. Come let’s get a delicious apple- (they go to a large chest, filled with apples. Opening it, the Mother gives her daughter an apple) Daughter: What a red one! Can brother have one, too-I’ll pick one out… Mother : (upset) when he comes home from school I’ll give him one. A red one just like..(she hears the Boy approaching)…a red one just like-just like…(she grabs her daughter’s apple)…just like this red one. Now you can wait until your brother is home! (The frightened daughter leaves the room…as her step brother enter the house) (Sung simultaneously) Mother: How was school today? You look like, I mean, would you like an apple? You must be hungry. There are ripe ones here for you.They are all for you. She will have one later. She will have all she wants later. Now pick your red apple. You must be hungry. Well, pick out the best…pick out the one you’d like…. Son (frightened): What is the matter? You look so strange. Is something wrong? Yes, I’d like one, I’m hungry…Is sister home? Where is she? She should have one, too. She can have one, too. What is the matter? You look so strange. Is something wrong? Yes, I’d like one. I’m hungry…
(The son leans in to find an apple. The step-mother, staring at the boy, seized by jealousy and rage, slams the lid down hard on him which chops his head right off into the chest. His body falls limp to the ground. The step-mother, at once enraged and ecstatic, now as if released from a heavy burden, sees the limp, headless boy and is filled with remorse)
Mother: What, what, can I do? (she quickly places the corpse minus head upon a chair, then re-attaches his head, covering the neck with a scarf. She places an apple in his hand. She then goes into the kitchen and begins to prepare dinner. The daughter, having passed the boy, enters the kitchen.
Daughter: Mama, brother is sitting with an apple and he looks so pale. I asked him for an apple and he wouldn’t answer. He’s so scary and white-maybe he’s ill. Maybe he’s got a fever. Should I feel his head? Mother: NO! H (Сын наклоняется, чтобы найти яблоко. Мачеха, глядя на мальчика, охваченный ревностью и яростью, крепко прижимает крышку к себе, которая рубит его голова прямо в грудь. Его тело обмякло на землю. мачеха, сразу взбешенная и восторженная, теперь словно освобожденная от тяжелой ношу, видит хромого, безголового мальчика и полон раскаяния)
Мать: Что, что, я могу сделать? (она быстро кладет труп без головы на стул, затем снова прикрепляет голову, закрывая шею шарфом. Она кладет яблоко в его руку. Затем она идет на кухню и начинает готовить ужин. Дочка, пройдя мальчика, входит в кухня.
Дочь: мама, брат сидит с яблоком, и он выглядит таким бледным. я попросил у него яблоко, и он не ответил бы. Он такой страшный и белый - может быть, он болен. Может быть, он лихорадит Должен ли я чувствовать его глава? Мать: НЕТ! ЧАС