THE SYSTEM OF SOOTHING is a 90-minute opera in three acts, with the option of one intermission.

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Cast of Characters

 

Principal Roles 

• THE TRAVELLER, a young doctor (tenor)

• THE OLD DOCTOR, Traveller’s acquaintance (bass-baritone)           

• DR. COLIN MAILLARD, head of St. Dymphna’s Asylum  (baritone)   

• JENNIE, Maillard’s daughter  (soprano)                                                    

 

Chorus of Guests - patients at St. Dymphna’s Asylum.  

If a larger chorus is used, these soloists may come from the chorus, or be cast separately.

 

• A woman who thinks she is a BIRD (coloratura soprano)

• A woman who thinks she is a bottle of CHAMPAGNE  (soprano)

• PETIT GAILLARD, who thinks she is a frog (mezzo-soprano)

• MADAME JOYEUSE, who thinks she is a rooster (mezzo-soprano)

• A man who thinks he is a TEAPOT  (character tenor)

• A man who thinks he is a DONKEY  (character tenor)

• BOUFFON LE GRAND, a two-headed orator (baritone)

• A man who thinks he is a GRANDFATHER CLOCK (baritone)

 

Chamber casting option - Eight singers

- Four principal roles 

- Four chorus/secondary characters:  BIRD/CHAMPAGNE (coloratura soprano), GAILLARD/JOYEUSE (mezzo-soprano), TEAPOT/DONKEY (character tenor), BOUFFON/CLOCK (baritone)

 

Orchestrations

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• Six-piece chamber ensemble (Pierrot ensemble plus percussion)

• 13 - piece chamber orchestra (similar to Britten's chamber operas)

• Large pit orchestra (similar to Ravel's L'enfant et les Sortilege)  

 

The action takes place in, and around, St. Dymphna’s, a private institution for the insane.