The Golden Ticket

The Golden Ticket is an opera based on Roald Dahl’s classic book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by the contemporary American composer Peter Ash, with a libretto by Donald Sturrock. The Golden Ticket was commissioned by American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director; and Felicity Dahl.[1] It premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis on June 13, 2010 in a co-production between OTSL, Ireland’s Wexford Festival Opera, and American Lyric Theater.[2]

History

The Golden Ticket was originally conceived as a project for London’s Royal National Theatre, but early workshops initiated by the composer and librettist revealed the challenges of producing an opera under the auspices of a theater company that did not regularly employ classically trained singers. An early concert version of the score was presented by the Manchester Camerata shortly thereafter. This concert was considered by most to be a failure, in part due to the fact that family audiences had expected a fully staged version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – not an opera in concert.[3] After receiving funding from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in the UK, Ash and Sturrock created a 25 minute recording of excerpts of the opera to promote it to potential producers. In 2006, this recording came to the attention of American Lyric Theater’s Producing Artistic Director, Lawrence Edelson, who commissioned the completion of the opera in partnership with Felicity Dahl, widow of Roald Dahl. American Lyric Theater developed the opera over a three-year period, including two extensive workshops in New York City, prior to partnering with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2010 for the world premiere production.[1][4]

Musical Forces and Language

The opera is written for a virtuoso chamber orchestra of 23 players, a cast of 12 principal singers, and a chorus of 24 adults with an optional children's chorus. No children’s chorus was used in the World Premiere production.

Role Distribution

Chorus of Gargoyles, Townsfolk, Oompa Loompas, Squirrels

World Premiere

The World Premiere Production Team and Cast:[5]

A co-production between Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater, and Wexford Festival Opera.

Subsequent Productions

The world premiere production is a co-production between Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater and Wexford Festival Opera. Wexford has scheduled the European premiere for October 2010.[6] American Lyric Theater is expected to announce additional production plans in late 2010.[7] The Atlanta Opera's production of The Golden Ticket was performed in March 2012. [8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 New Operas for New Audiences – The Golden Ticket
  2. ↑ The New York Times - A 'Golden Ticket' for St. Louis Opera Fans
  3. ↑ Los Angeles Times 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Strikes the Right Notes'
  4. ↑ NPR 'The Golden Ticket' is Finally Unwrapped
  5. ↑ OPERA America New Works Directory
  6. ↑ https://wexfordoperafestival.ticketsolve.com/shows/23498501/events
  7. ↑ Broadway World Article on the World Premiere of The Golden Ticket
  8. ↑
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