A Hand Of Bridge

Short Opera-Comedy

Composer: Samuel Barber
Libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti

Cast of Characters

Geraldine, s
Sally, c
Bill, t
David, bar

Synopsis

Four friends are gathered for their evening bridge game. As play progresses, each sings an aria expressing their true thoughts. Sally is not thinking about much except which new hat to buy; her husband, Bill, wonders whether Sally know about his lover Cymbeline and what she is doing. Geraldine, ignored both by her husband David and Bill, her former lover, is worried about her dying mother; her husband, bitter about his dead-end job, daydreams about what his life would be like if he were as rich as his boss; as the opera ends, he admits that it would probably not be very different.

Performance History

Premiere: Festival of Two Worlds, Spoleto, Italy; 17 June 1959. Patricia Neway, soprano, Ellen Miville, contralto, William Lewis, tenor, René Miville, baritone, Robert Feist, conductor, Jac Venza, designer.

Discography

A Hand of Bridge, on 3 American One-Act Operas. Adairondack Chamber Orchestra/Smith 1998.
Compact disc: Premier PRCD 1009.
A Hand of Bridge, on Music of Samuel Barber. Symphony of the Air/Golschmann 1999.
Compact disc: Vanguard OVC 4016.

last update: 25 Nov. 2002