At the Statue of Venus • 2005

Libretto by Terrence McNally

Opera, dramatic scene for soprano

World Premiere: September 10, 2005
Commissioned by Opera Colorado

First Performance: soprano Kristin Clayton and pianist Jake Heggie
Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver

Duration: 24’

Resources

Overview
Performances
Recordings
Scores

Commissioned to celebrate the grand opening of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House

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About

An attractive woman waits in a museum by a statue of the Goddess of Love to meet a man she has never seen. Her thoughts and emotions are a jumble of hope, uncertainty and self-doubt. Will he like her? Will she like him? Why did she—a proudly successful modern woman, probably divorced—allow her friends to convince her that they had found a Mr. Right for her? We all know that Mr. Right doesn’t exist—or does he? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. To be willing to be judged by another person—does anything make us more vulnerable but human, too.

For soprano and piano or soprano and chamber orchestra

Oboe (doubling English horn)
Soprano Sax (doubling Alto Sax and Flute)
Clarinet in Bb and A
Percussion (1 player)
Piano
3 violins
1 Cello
1 Bass