The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year

The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year (2013)

chamber opera in one act for 3 vocal soloists, 2 singing puppeteers, and chamber orchestra, based on the play by John Guare

[1111.1111.2 perc.harp.piano+toy piano.SOLO soprano, SOLO tenor, SOLO baritone. 2 singing (not classically training, ideally bad singers) puppeteers. strings]
Duration: 45’

Written for Laura Soto-Bayomi, Josh Quinn, and Patrick Shelton with support from an Entrepreneurial Musicianship grant (NEC) and a Granoff Special Projects grant (Tufts)

Premiered fully staged May 15, 2013 at Brown Hall, New England Conservatory, MA
Laura Soto-Bayomi, Joshua Quinn, Patrick Shelton, Sami Stevens, Diamanda La Berge-Dramm, and ad-hoc orchestra; Matthew Szymanski, conductor

Katherine Balch · Recitative and calliope music ("Do you really have a wife?")

Some excerpts from the recording session of my chamber opera in Tufts' Distler Hall. Lee Mills conducting, Lisa Perry and Joshua Quinn singing the roles of SHE and HE, respectively.

Katherine Balch · "Don't let her see us! Under those babies is where she keeps her blue rifle!"

Some excerpts from the recording session of my chamber opera in Tufts' Distler Hall. Lee Mills conducting, Lisa Perry and Joshua Quinn singing the roles of SHE and HE, respectively.

Katherine Balch · "Autumn Song"

Some excerpts from the recording session of my chamber opera in Tufts' Distler Hall. Lee Mills conducting, Lisa Perry and Joshua Quinn singing the roles of SHE and HE, respectively.

PC: A. Hurltbut photography