A Chamber Opera in Six Scenes

A chamber opera in six scenes that depict the life of Saint Mary of Egypt. For a small ensemble of only three principal singers and seven instruments (plus percussion), the opera is designed for a small venue.

Cast

• Mary — soprano
• Zosimas — baritone
• Abbot — tenor
• SATB chorus/chorus of young men/pilgrims/monks/chorus of women/angelic voice (all to be members of the general chorus)

Instruments

• Flute
• Oboe/English horn
• Harp
• Organ
• Violin
• Viola
• Violoncello
• Percussion:
  • small drum, bass drum, tambourine, triangle,
  • gong, bells, chimes, marimba, maracas

Duration: Approximately 1½ hours

Level of Difficulty: Moderately advanced

Summary

• SCENE 1 — A bazaar in Alexandria, Egypt
• SCENE 2 — Jerusalem
• SCENE 3 — A monastery in Palestine, forty-seven years later
• SCENE 4 — The desert, twenty days later
• SCENE 5 — The banks of the Jordan River, one year later
• SCENE 6 — The desert, one year later

Instrumental interludes occur between Scenes 4 & 5 and Scenes 5 & 6.

Audio files are not yet public. Write for information regarding sound files or for score availability. The full libretto may be accessed below.

Libretto