Joe Stollery

This opera was conceived as the final collaborative project of the Encouraging New Opera workshops, completing the Scottish Opera/Leverhulme Scholarship 2013/14. The original idea came from librettist James Leonard, who had an interest in how Nature is always getting conflicted by Industry. He then condensed this big analogy down to a family saga, where the wife represents Nature and her newly-wed husband Industry. The libretto is divided into three scenes, each separated by interludes and a prologue and epilogue, which all feature monologues from the husband.

The opera is introduced from the perspective of Charles Rust, the husband of the story, who talks about how he acquired the estate of Flora through marriage, and wished to build ‘paradise’ for both of them. After the marriage, Flora’s father Cyril comes to announce to Charles that he will sign the deeds over to him, as he is now old. Charles promises to respect his wife and stay moderate in his ambitions. They all drink a toast to the future.

Charles cuts the celebration short, and in another monologue, he is irritated about being restricted in his ideas for Flora’s estate. In the next scene, Cyril’s health has deteriorated rapidly. Flora tries to comfort him by singing him a lullaby, but Charles rudely interferes and begins to push her about his next big project. Cyril is increasingly distraught by this, in spite of Charles’s half-hearted assurances. Eventually, Flora gives in and hands him a check before leaving.

After Cyril’s death, Charles becomes increasingly excited and agitated by his biggest idea of them all. After raving on about it in another monologue, he storms off and put it into action. The orchestral interlude that follows demonstrates that the result is presumably catastrophic, leaving the estate in ruins. Later on, Charles desperately tries to persuade Flora to give him more money to recover his plans. She naturally refuses, and talks about the destruction he has managed to make, talking him down at every opportunity. She then reveals that she is filing for a divorce. Charles comes down on his knees in sheer desperation, but Flora is unmoved and finally leaves, stating that everything will return to nature in the end.

As she leaves, Charles is left on the floor of the ruined estate, lamenting on the fact that his plans had ultimately failed, and that he actually needed Flora’s guidance in order to build his ‘paradise’.

PERFORMANCES:

Première: 2 November 2014 - Johnston Hall, University of Aberdeen

Lucy Hole (Flora - soprano), Josh Baxter (Charles - tenor), Matthew Broderick (Cyril - baritone), Marischal Chamber Orchestra (dir. Chris Gray)