When the Flame Dies (2012) Perusal Score
Commissioned by the Canterbury Festival
Chamber opera
Baritone, Mezzo, Tenor, Soprano, Counter-Tenor
Flute (doubling alto, picc); clarinet (doubling bass); trumpet; horn; percussion; harp; piano; violin 1; violin 2; viola; cello; double bass
Recorded on Métier
Duration: 60’
Programme Note
When the Flame Dies explores the life of French poet, novelist, artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau and characters from his film Orphée in a fast-paced human drama. Love or creativity? The Poet must choose before the candle flickers and dies. Will he bring back his dead lover from the underworld, or choose art, creativity, and immortal fame?
“This is an original, audacious work, whose premiere I had the good fortune to attend. Its clear compositional and dramaturgical structure provides a strong framework for striking visuals, while the combination of impressive vocal and orchestral work, with electronic and pre-recorded found sounds, creates an appropriately haunting ‘echo chamber’ of music and visuals.
Hughes has turned Cocteau’s anguished requiem for Radiguet into a moving, inspiring creation. ”
Cocteau: Edward Grint
Princess Death: Lucy Williams
Orpheus: Julian Podger
Euridice: Emily Phillips
Raymond: Andrew Radley
Conductor: Carlos del Cueto
New Music Players:
Flute: Rowland Sutherland
Clarinet: Fiona Cross
Trumpet: Edward Maxwell
Horn: Richard Steggall
Percussion: Tim Palmer
Harp: Federica Mossone
Piano: Richard Casey
Violin: Susanne Stanzeleit
Violin: Adam Summerhayes
Viola: Bridget Carey
Cello: Andrew Fuller
Double Bass: Lucy Shaw
Composer: Ed Hughes
Libretto: Roger Morris
Lighting, Video and Projection Designer: Will Reynolds
Producer: Liz Webb
Sound Engineer: Simon Weir
Sound and technical support: Danny Bright
Additional sound treatments and electronics’ consultancy: Antony Pitts
Pre-performance talk: Evelyn Ficarra (chair) with Prof. Michal Grover-Friedlander (guest speaker), Ed Hughes (composer), Roger Morris (libretto), Will Reynolds (video design)
When the Flame Dies was produced for New Music Players by Liz Webb Management www.lizwebb.org.uk
When the Flame Dies was supported by the RVW Trust
Stage Opera and Theatre Music