Horatio Parker

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

Operas

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)

About Horatio Parker

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.

Discography

(Search Amazon.com for music by Horatio Parker )

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

last update: 3 Dec. 2002