William Grant Still




TROUBLED ISLAND by William Grant Still



Troubled Island


Opera Synopsis


Opera Production Timeline


Premiere Performance


Directors and Cast


William Grant Still Art Center and Mural

JUST TELL THE STORY: Troubled Island



What's Inside


Book Review


Testimonials


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WILLIAM GRANT STILL and VERNA ARVEY



Biographical Introduction


William Grant Still


Verna Arvey

WILLIAM GRANT STILL MUSIC



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William Grant Still Music  
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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.










American Composer and Conductor William Grant Still

Troubled Island  |  Opera Synopsis  |  Opera Production Timeline  |  Premiere Performance  |  Directors and Cast  |  William Grant Still Art Center and Mural  |  What's Inside  |  Book Review  |  Testimonials  |  ORDER BOOK  |  Biographical Introduction  |  William Grant Still  |  Verna Arvey  |  Contact Information



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