Susannah
Encyclopedia : S : SU : SUS : Susannah
Susannah an opera by American opera composer Carlisle Floyd (born 1926) while he was on the piano faculty at Florida State University. Floyd adapted the story from the Apocryphal tale of Susannah and the Elders. The story focuses on 18 year old Susannah Polk, an innocent girl who is targeted as a sinner in the small mountain town of New Hope Valley. Influenced by the Elders and Elders Wives, traveling preacher Olin Blitch and the town push her away leading in tragedy.
This opera was awarded the New York Music Critics Circle Award for Best New Opera in 1956 and was chosen to represent American music and culture at the World's Fair at Brussels in 1958.
Susannah is one of the most performed American operas, second to Porgy and Bess and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a performance on the very stage where it premiered February 24, 1955 in Ruby Diamond Auditorium at Florida State University. At the first performance, Carlisle Floyd was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Florida State University.
Main Roles and World Premiere Cast
- Susannah Polk - soprano (Phyllis Curtin)
- Sam Polk - tenor (Walter James)
- Olin Blitch - bass-baritone (Mack Harrell)
- Little Bat McLean - tenor (Eb Thomas)
- Elder McLean - baritone (Harrison Fisher)
- Elder Gleaton - tenor (Kenneth Nelson)
- Elder Hayes - tenor (Dayton Smith)
- Elder Ott - baritone (Lee Liming)
- Mrs. McLean - mezzo-soprano (Martha Kay Willis)
- Mrs. Gleaton - soprano (Catherine Murphy)
- Mrs. Hayes - soprano (Joan Nichy)
- Mrs. Ott - contralto (Bette Jo Armstrong)
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.