Horatio Parker Born: 15 Sep. 1863, Auburndale, MA Died: 18 Dec. 1919, Cedarhurst, NY

(U.S. Opera Home Page)

• Mona, opera in 3 acts; libretto by Brian Hooker (14 March 1912, NY Met: 4 performances) [composed 1910]
• Fairyland, opera in one act; libretto by Brian Hooker (1 July 1915, L.A.: 6 performances)

Horatio Parker was one of the more popular composers of his generation, but his works have mostly not stood the test of time; critics have found them bland and lacking in individualism. His first opera, Mona, won a $10,000 prize in a competition by the Metropolitan Opera of New York; the lighter Fairyland also won a prize, this time from the National Federation of Music Clubs. The cast for the first performance of Mona was as follows:

• Mona, Princess of Britain, ms: Louise Homer
• Enya, Her Foster-Mother, s: Rita Fornia
• Arth, Husband of Enya, b: Herbert Witherspoon
• Gloom, Their Son, a Druid: William Hinshaw
• Nial, A Changeling: Albert Reiss
• Caradoc, Chief Bard of Britain: Lambert Murphy
• The Roman Governor of Britain, bar: Putnam Griswold
• Quintus, His Son, t: Riccardo Martin
• An Old Man: Basil Ruysdael
• Conductor: Alfred Hertz

Parker also had a strong influence on American musical development as an educator and the founder of the Yale University music department.

"The golden heart wide open" from Mona, on Souvenirs from American Operas. Various artists, 1998. Compact disc: IRCC 818.