The Golden Ticket (opera) facts for kids
The Golden Ticket is an opera that brings to life Roald Dahl's famous 1964 book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The music was created by the American composer Peter Ash, and the story for the opera (called the libretto) was written by Donald Sturrock.
The Golden Ticket was requested by American Lyric Theater and Felicity Dahl, who is Roald Dahl's widow. It first opened on June 13, 2010, at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. This first performance was a team effort with Ireland's Wexford Festival Opera and American Lyric Theater.
Contents
How the Opera Began
The idea for The Golden Ticket first came up as a project for London's Royal National Theatre. However, early practice sessions showed that it was hard to create an opera there because the theater didn't usually work with trained opera singers.
Later, a concert version of the music was performed by the Manchester Camerata. Many people felt this concert wasn't a success. This was partly because families expected a full stage show of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, not just an opera played in concert.
After getting some funding, Ash and Sturrock made a 25-minute recording of parts of the opera. They used this recording to show their work to possible producers. In 2006, this recording caught the attention of Lawrence Edelson, who leads American Lyric Theater. He asked them to finish the opera. Felicity Dahl also joined in this effort. American Lyric Theater spent three years developing the opera. They held two big workshops in New York City before partnering with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for the first full production in 2010.
The Music and Performers
This opera is written for a very skilled chamber orchestra of 23 musicians. It also features 12 main singers and a chorus of 24 adults. Sometimes, a children's chorus can be added, but it was not used in the first performance.
Main Characters and Singers
Here are the main characters in the opera and the types of voices that sing their parts:
- Charlie Bucket: A young boy's voice (Treble)
- Willy Wonka: A deep male voice (Bass Baritone or Baritone)
- Mike Teavee: A high male voice (Countertenor)
- Veruca Salt: A middle-range female voice (Mezzo Soprano)
- Lord Salt: A middle-range male voice (Baritone)
- Violet Beauregarde: A very high, flexible female voice (Coloratura Soprano)
- Augustus Gloop: A high male voice (Tenor)
- Grandpa Joe: A high male voice (Tenor)
- Mr. Beauregarde/Grandpa George: A deep male voice (Bass)
- Mrs. Gloop/Grandma Georgina: A strong, dramatic female voice (Dramatic Soprano)
- Mrs. Teavee/Grandma Josephine: A low female voice (Contralto or Mezzo Soprano)
- Candy Mallow/Squirrelmistress: A middle-range female voice (Mezzo Soprano)
The chorus also plays groups like gargoyles, townsfolk, Oompa Loompas, and squirrels.
The Big Premiere
The first performance of The Golden Ticket had a talented team and cast.
- Director: James Robinson
- Conductor: Timothy Redmond
- Scenic Design: Bruno Schwengl
- Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz
- Choreographer: Seán Curran
This first show was a joint effort by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater, and Wexford Festival Opera.
Some of the main singers in the premiere included:
- Charlie Bucket: Michael Kepler Meo
- Willy Wonka: Daniel Okulitch
- Veruca Salt: Jennifer Rivera
- Grandpa Joe: Frank Kelley
- Violet Beauregarde: Tracy Dahl
- Augustus Gloop: Andrew Drost
Other Performances
The first production of the opera was a team effort. Wexford Festival Opera presented the European premiere in October 2010. The Atlanta Opera also performed The Golden Ticket in March 2012.
The Recorded Version
The Atlanta Opera's performance in March 2012 was recorded. This recording features many of the talented singers and musicians from that production. Peter Ash, the composer, conducted the recording. It was released by Albany Records.
See also
In Spanish: The Golden Ticket para niños
