Programme Note
Truman, an ‘urban angst’ film maker wakes up to read the reviews of his film which premiered last night. He is heralded as a genius who “can make us believe in coitus between a knife and a spoon”. He rushes home, feeling in his heart a desperate need to love, goes back to his studio and falls in love with his chair. His dog gets jealous and complications ensue….
A Chair in love is unique. Firstly, it is that rare thing – a contemporary comic opera. Secondly, it is an ‘adult’ opera suitable and accessible to youth audiences. Thirdly, the instrumentalists are dramaturgically, compositionally and scenographically integrated into the stage action.
A Chair in love is conceived for four singers: Truman (baritone), the Chair (soprano), the Dog (bass), and Dogtor/Doctor (mezzo) and the wind quintet Pentaèdre. Keith Turnbull directs and is
coordinating producer. John Bishop, Linda Brunelle and David Gaucher design. Normand Forget and Wyn Davies are co-music directors.
A Chair in love was produced by Le Chien qui chante, in collaboration with the Taliesin Arts Centre and the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts – an international collaboration under the umbrella of the Joint Agreement on Cultural Co-operation between the Governments of Quebec and the United Kingdom.
Performance History
World premiere performances
Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea October 20th – 22nd 2005
Followed by tour to :
October 25th Aberystwyth Arts Centre
October 27th Galeri, Caernarfon
October 29th The Riverfront, Newport
November 1st Theatre Royal, Waterford
North American premiere performances 2006
Espace Go, Montreal
June 8th – 17th (10 performances)
Revival and second tour of world premiere production July 2008
10th Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea Open dress rehearsal/Schools’ matinee
11th Taliesin Arts Centre
12th Torch Theatre, Milford Haven
14th Theatr Felinfach Performance
15th Theatr Felinfach Schools matinee
16th Buxton Festival (matinee)
17th WMC Cardiff Weston Studio
20th Buxton Festival (matinee)
Semi-staged production by Opera by Request, Toronto July 2015
Array Space, Toronto July 17th 2015 – William Shookhoff (music director and pianist), Abigail Freeman (Chair), Michael Robert-Broder (Truman), Gregory Finney (Dog), and Kim Sartor (Dogtor/Doctor)
Reviews
“An inspired example of contemporary comic opera” – BUZZ MAGAZINE, Wales
“It sounds daft, it works brilliantly, it’s called A Chair in Love, and if you get the chance to see it, do yourself a favour” – Editor, SOUTH WALES EVENING POST, Wales
“Truly engaging and touching!” – THE GUARDIAN, UK
“A gloriously dotty, charming and entertaining opera romp…In a word, brilliant” – THE STAGE, UK
