TROUBLED ISLAND
An Opera in Three Acts
Music by WILLIAM GRANT STILL
Libretto by Langston Hughes and Verna Arvey
Premiere Performance: March 31st, April 10th, and May 1st* of 1949
NEW YORK CITY OPERA COMPANY
Conducted by Laszlo Halasz (1st & 2nd performances),
Julius Rudel (3rd performance*)
Choreography by George Balanchine (minuet)
and Jean Leon Destine (voodoo dances)
Stage Direction by Eugene Bryden
Stage and Costume Design by H. A. Condel
Dedicated to Leopold Stokowski
CAST
Celeste, A Slave Mother...........................Muriel OMalley (mezzo soprano)
Popo, Slave...........................Nathaniel Sprinzena (tenor)
Azelia, Wife of Dessalines...........................Marie Powers (contralto)
Dessalines, Slave Leader...........................Robert Weede (baritone), Lawrence Winters*
Martel, an Old Man...........................Oscar Natzka (bass)
Vuval, a Mulatto...........................Richard Charles, debut (tenor)
Stenio, Vuval's Cousin...........................Arthur Newman (baritone)
Papaloi, Voodoo Priest...........................Robert McFerrin (tenor)
Mamaloi, Voodoo Priestess...........................Ruth Stewart (soprano)
Claire, the Mulatto Empress...........................Helena Bliss, debut (soprano), Marguerite Piazzi*
1st Servant...........................Dorothy MacNeil (soprano)
2nd Servant...........................Frances Bible (mezzo soprano)
3rd Servant...........................Rosalind Nadell (alto)
The Steward...........................Edwin Dunning (baritone)
The Chamberlain...........................Richard Wentworth (bass)
The Herald...........................Unknown] (tenor)
The Messenger...........................William Stanz (tenor)
The Fisherman...........................Edwin Dunning (baritone)
The Mango Vendor...........................Francis Bible (mezzo soprano)
The Melon Vendor...........................Mary Lesawyer (soprano)
Ragamuffin boys...........................Sam Weiss and Others [Unknown] (mutes)
Slaves, Voodoo attendants, servants, guests, courtiers, market women,
fishermen, peasants, soldiers, dancers, drummers who merely
pantomine beating native drums. Some of the minor roles taken by
members of the chorus; in some instances one person may sing
more than one of the minor roles.