Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Punch and Judy
Short instrumentation: 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 0 - perc(2), hp, str.quin
Duration: 110'
Libretto von: Stephen Pruslin
Übersetzer: Iris Brendel
Dedication: dedicated to "my Pretty Polly"
Roles:
Puppenpolly (witch)
high soprano Judy (fortune-teller)
mezzo-soprano Punch
high baritone Lawyer
high tenor Choregos (Jack Ketch)
low baritone Doctor
bass 5 Dancers (mimes): 2 women
3 men
Instrumentation details:
tpt, tbn - perc(2), hp, string quintet - on stage: fl (+ picc), ob (+ c.a, ob.d'a), cl(Bb) (+ cl(Eb), bass cl, soprano sax), bs (+ cbsn), hr
Birtwistle - Punch and Judy
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Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Birtwistle: Punch and JudyType: Libretto/Textbuch
Language: Englisch (Großbritannien)
Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Birtwistle: Punch and JudyType: Klavierauszug
Language: Englisch (Großbritannien)
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Work introduction
Harrison Birtwistle based his full-length one-act piece on traditional county fair entertainment, working together with American pianist Stephen Pruslin, a long-time London resident. Composer and librettist created a stylised and ritualistic theatre piece in which the aggression and violence of the traditional material and Punch’s love for Pretty Polly are juxtaposed. Birtwistle’s music is a tour de force from the outset; Punch’s smile is simultaneously a terrifying grin, a father’s tenderness towards his baby is a murderous gesture as he throws the infant into the fire.