EDWARD LAMBERT
  • The Music Troupe
  • Productions
    • Last Party on Earth
    • Apollo's Mission
    • Art of Venus
    • Catfish Conundrum
    • Cloak & Dagger Affair
    • Opera With A Title
    • six characters
    • Oval Portrait
  • Media
  • Reviews
  • Edward Lambert
    • Instrumental Works
    • Vocal & Choral Works
    • Stage Works
    • Simple Operas
    • Blog
    • About

Blog

Life & Art

16/9/2017

0 Comments

 
The Oval Portrait
Picture
I came across Poe’s The Oval Portrait in 2013 when I needed to complete a programme of chamber opera: the story is concise and simply told, written in prose that sounds very musical. 
The story had a surreal quality which encapsulates the life and art dilemma in a way which would be impossible with a more down-to-earth scenario. It wouldn’t be a true opera in the normal sense, with dialogue between characters, for example; but it’s a story crying out to be sung. 

The Visitor begins by telling us how he stayed in a remote castle (think Transylvania) and in his turret-room he becomes disconcerted to feel he is being watched. The culprit turns out to be merely the portrait of a young woman, but one which is so full of life that she appears to be real.  For an insight into the portrait, he turns to a book which he sees beside him, and the rest of the tale quotes the words that he reads. Since I had five singers available, I set the visitor as a solo baritone, and the text of the book for the remaining four voices and since their words needed to be clearly understood, much of their delivery is in the form of choral recitation. 

They explain that the young woman’s husband was an artist who already had ‘a bride in his art’. The piece changes colour when he starts to paint her portrait: in a never-ceasing frenzy the portrait comes alive even as the bride withers away out of sheer exhaustion. I chose simple chords that are hammered home and a driving pulse to depict this ‘fervid and burning’ activity, and I remember writing it in rather the same way. As the artist finishes the work he exclaims “This is indeed Life itself!” - whereupon he discovers his bride has died. 

This is where Poe’s story ends. But I added a little surprise that the Book has in store for the Visitor. ​​
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Edward Lambert

    Composer and musician

    Categories

    All
    Being Alive
    Composers
    Compositions
    Conducting
    Musical Life
    Newbury Chamber Choir
    Opera
    People
    The Music Troupe

    Archives

    September 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    November 2010
    June 2010
    March 2010
    November 2009
    June 2009
    January 2009
    November 2008
    June 2008
    March 2008
    November 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    November 2006
    June 2006
    March 2006
    November 2005
    March 2005
    January 2005
    December 2000
    November 2000
    December 1999

    RSS Feed

Picture
Scores available by means of a Performance Restricted license from IMSLP

The Music Troupe
​charity no. 1161386

Contact Us

Submit
  • The Music Troupe
  • Productions
    • Last Party on Earth
    • Apollo's Mission
    • Art of Venus
    • Catfish Conundrum
    • Cloak & Dagger Affair
    • Opera With A Title
    • six characters
    • Oval Portrait
  • Media
  • Reviews
  • Edward Lambert
    • Instrumental Works
    • Vocal & Choral Works
    • Stage Works
    • Simple Operas
    • Blog
    • About