Sara McKinnon
Opera in Three Acts
2001, rev. 2002.
[A completely reconceived and restructed version of this opera is in progress.]
Duration: 140 minutes
Libretto by Mark Medoff
Orchestra: 1021/2110/2perc/strings
Premiere: Doña Ana Lyric Opera, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, July 27, 2001
Premiere of Revised Version: CU Opera at the University of Colorado in April 2003.
Notes: Playwright Mark Medoff and I wrote the first version of Sara McKonnon Randall Shinn for Doña Ana Lyric Opera at New Mexico State University. We made a number of changes, and the second version was produced at the University of Colorado.
These productions were both enthusiastically received (see reviews). Nonetheless, responding to feedback about the production difficulties created by the opera′s scale and complex plot, Mark and I decided we could greatly improve the opera. In 2008 and 2009 we completely restructured and reworked the libretto: simplifying the plot and reducing a huge cast down to four principals, four minor roles, and chorus. The distilled plot gave us room to add and expand arias and ensembles for the principals.
While we were working, we also deepened various surreal, dream-driven aspects of the opera, increasing the sense that it's Old West setting is mythic. I′m currently composing the music for this radically reworked version, much of which will be new and all of which has to be reconsidered in the light of the work′s overall reshaping.