The Silver Tassie

tragi-comic opera in four acts

libretto by Amanda Holden after the play by Sean O'Casey

Edition: Performance material

Series: The Silver Tassie

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Description

The Silver Tassie, Turnage’s second acknowledged opera, is on a much larger scale than his first, Greek. Based on the play by Sean O’Casey written in 1927, it is set at the time of the Great War (World War I) and its title, referring to a footballing trophy, comes from a Scottish song text by Robert Burns ‘Go fetch to me a pint o’ wine, an’ fill it in a silver tassie; that I may drink before I go, a service to my bonnie lassie’.
Harry Heegan (23) is a local hero - a soldier on leave from the Great War, and a renowned footballer. An only child, he lives with his parents (both in their 60s), having grown up close to the girl next door, Susie. In the flat above is a volatile young couple, Mrs Foran and her husband Teddy. The other main roles are Harry’s glamorous girlfriend, Jessie, and his best friend, Barney. Triumphant after a footballing success and winning the cup (‘The Silver Tassie’) for his team, he leaves for the front. The second act, a darkly expressionist vision of war, is cast for male voices (boys and men) only. In the second half of the opera, Harry is in a wheelchair, Teddy is blind and Jessie has deserted Harry for Barney. The final act, in which dance music plays almost continuously, brings the tragi-comedy to a poignant and moving conclusion, as Harry and Teddy set off to face the future.

Orchestral Cast

3(2.pic,3.pic&afl).3(3.ca).2(2.Acl,bcl).bcl(Bbcl).ssax(asax).3(3.cbsn)-4.3.3(3.euph).1-3perc(timp, s.d, ten d, lg b.d, pedal b.d, 2tom-t, lg sus cym, sm sus cym, splash cym, sizz cym, wdbl, 4tempbl, tamb, whip, tri, lg tam-t, 7tuned gongs (B, C, D, Eb, E, F, G), Japanese temple bell, 4lg cow bells, log d, brake d, mar, vib, crots, tub bells, lg metal bar, cast, lion's roar, harmonica)-hp.pno(cel).upright pno(act IV only)-str(12.12.10.8.6)

Cast

Harry Heegan · baritone - Susie Monican · mezzo-soprano - Mrs Foran · soprano - Teddy Foran · baritone - Barney Bagnal · baritone - Jessie Taite · soprano - Mrs Heegan · mezzo-soprano - Sylvester Heegan · tenor - Dr Maxwell · tenor - The Croucher · bass - Officer · tenor - Corporal · baritone - Stretcher Bearers · Boys Chorus - Soldiers · Mens Chorus

More Information

Title:

The Silver Tassie

tragi-comic opera in four acts

libretto by Amanda Holden after the play by Sean O'Casey

Language:

English

Edition:

Performance material

Awards:

Jan 1, 2001

Olivier Award for Opera

Publisher/Label:

Schott Music Ltd., London

Year of composition:

1997 - 1999

World Premiere:

February 16, 2000 · London (UK)
English National Opera, Coliseum
Gerald Finley; Sarah Connolly; Vivien Tierneyl David Kempter; Leslie John Flanagan; Mary Hegarty; Anne Howells; John Grahman-Hall; Mark Le Brocq · Conductor: Paul Daniel
Original staging: Bill Bryden · Costumes: William Dudley · Set design: William Dudley
Organizer: English National Opera
(scenic)

Commissioned work :

co-commissioned by English National Opera and Dallas Opera with funds provided by the Arts Council of England

Series:

The Silver Tassie