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David Griffiths  

3 Franks

Duration: 55' 00" Year: 2005
three short operas based on Franks Sargeson Stories

• Instrumentation
  soloists, SATB chorus, flute, clarinet in B flat, 2 violins, 2 cellos
• Availability

  • Griffiths, D.: 3 Franks; computer-set 

    Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
    
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John Drummond  

A Beleaguered City

 Year: 2002
an opera in six scenes to a libretto by Jeremy Commons

• Availability

  • John Drummond: A Beleaguered City  Year: 2002 

    CD
    
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Felicity Williams  

A Cat and Mouse Love Story

Duration: 15' 00" Year: 1991
a dance drama for assorted classroom instruments

Philip Norman  

A Christmas Carol

Duration: 1h 40' 00" Year: 2001
ballet music for orchestra

• Instrumentation
  2222;2221;timp,2perc,keyboards;strs
• Programme Note

  Our version of A Christmas Carol began as a glint in Russell Kerr’s eye. I remember a phone call from Russell in late 1988: “Philip – I think I’ve got an idea for a ballet that might work…”.

  Two years later, A Christmas Carol opened in the Theatre Royal, Christchurch in a polished production by Southern Ballet, with Russell himself in the demanding dual roles of Scrooge and choreographer.

  The success of the Southern Ballet’s presentation led to an unexpected invitation from Angela Gorton, then General Manager of Canterbury Opera.

  “Would it be possible to convert the ballet into an opera?” Angela asked. “You’ve got to be joking” I remember thinking. “Yes, of course, no problems” I replied.

  The temporary bout of insanity continued. I chose to write the libretto, as well as taking on the challenge of converting what was an electronic tape score into a 500-page manuscript for live orchestra and singers.

  Thankfully, as it transpired, much of the original electronic score translated fairly readily into the different medium. At most, keys and speeds were altered, and occasional phrases tweaked to suit the range and breath requirements of the human performers. This left under half the ballet requiring either substantial revision or fresh material.

  1993 disappeared in a blur of notes, rhyming couplets and spectral apparitions. One memory remains clear, and that is the thrill of seeing my labours brought to life in a gratifying premiere season of the opera by Canterbury Opera.

  Someone once said ‘being a composer in New Zealand must be like being a bullfighter in Finland”. Certainly conventional wisdom has it that while a first performance of a new work is relatively easy to secure, opportunities for subsequent performances are as rare as a happy Wagnerian heroine.

  Thus it was with relish and gratitude that I leapt upon the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s invitation to turn my opera score back into a ballet. This time, it was to be for humans to play, and a full orchestra no less. Oh joy oh bliss.

  And it has given me the opportunity to use the wonderful line – I spent most of 2001 decomposing.

  I feel enormously privileged to have the opportunity to work once again with Russell, Kristian, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and, of course, Charles Dickens.

  Philip Norman
  Composer
  “A Christmas Carol”

Philip Norman  

A Christmas Carol

Duration: 1h 45' 00" Year: 1993
an opera for an ensemble of principals, chorus, dancers and orchestra

• Instrumentation
  2121; 2200; percussion; timpani; 2 keyboards; strings

Philip Norman  

A Christmas Carol

Duration: 1h 41' 00" Year: 1990
three act ballet with music for computer controlled keyboards

Philip Norman  

A Factory Opera

Duration: 30' 00" Year: 2002
a chamber opera for 6 principals, SATB chorus and 2 pianos

David Downes  

A Green Piece

 Year: 1989
dance score for tape

• Programme Note

  “Habits and routines and the struggle to change them……” Created for choreographer Sarah Major.

• Availability

  • David Downes: Saltwater  Year: 1993 

    CD
    
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Gary Daverne  

A Man With a Mission

Duration: 1h 20' 00" Year: 1991, r. 2011
an opera in two acts based on life of Missionary John Hobbs

• Programme Note

  Synopsis

  It is a historic story of a young man who travels from England via Australia, in the early 1820s, to become an ordained minister and set up a Wesleyan Mission in the Hokianga, in Northland, New Zealand.

  The story portrays the relationships, frustrations, conflicts and troubled times with the early settlers, the native Maori people and their Chiefs, especially Chief Te Aara, Tamati Waka Nene and Patuone.

  There is his special love for his devoted wife Jane, their learning, teaching and preaching, their unjustified exile to Tonga, then his reinstatement two years later to the Weslyan Mission in the Hokianga, culminating in the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Horeke, in the Hokianga.

• Availability

  • Daverne: A Man With a Mission; computer-set 

    Piano reduction | Hardcopy - computer set
    
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Peter Scholes (composer)  

A Midsummer Night's Dream

score for ballet of Shakespeare's play of the same name