from Act 2, Scene 4 of the English opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: Amy March, The youngest March daughter. In love with Laurie.

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: A letter (Read by Jo on the path in front of the March house).

Synopsis: Amy relates her happiness upon discovering that Laurie returns the love she has for him.

from Act 2, Scene 3 of the English opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: Beth March, One of the March daughters. Often ill. Dies of scarlet fever.

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: Beth's bedroom in the March house.

Synopsis: Jo has returned upon hearing that Beth is not doing well. Beth has accepted that she will die soon and tries to prepare Jo.

from Act 2, Scene 2 of the English opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: Friedrich Bhaer, A German professsor that lives across the hall from Jo in New York. He is in love with her.

Voice Part: bass-baritone       Fach: bass-baritone

Setting: A corridor in Jo's boarding house.

Synopsis: After reciting "Kennst du das Land" for Jo, she says that she still wishes she could understand the words. He repeats it for her in English. It is not just a recitation but a hidden confession of love.

from Act 2, Scene 2 of the German opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: Friedrich Bhaer, A German professsor that lives across the hall from Jo in New York. He is in love with her.

Voice Part: bass-baritone       Fach: bass-baritone

Setting: A corridor in Jo's boarding house.

Synopsis: Brooke recites a passage from Goethe's "Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre" when Jo asks what constitutes "proper" art.

from Prologue of the English opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: Jo March, One of the March daughters. Loved by Laurie, later loved by Bhaer. Against change, wishes things could remain "perfect as they are".

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: The attic of the March house.

Synopsis: Laurie suggests returning to the friendship that he and Jo used to share. An angry Jo envisions the impossibility of undoing all that has happened, including fights, marriages, and even death, in order to return to that point.

from Act 1, Scene 1 of the English opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: Jo March, One of the March daughters. Loved by Laurie, later loved by Bhaer. Against change, wishes things could remain "perfect as they are".

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: The attic of the March house.

Synopsis: Laurie has just told Jo that John Brooke has Meg's missing glove. The implication that Jo may lose Meg to marriage upsets Jo. In this aria, she alternates between reviewing the draft of her potboiler and arguing against change with a now absent Laurie.

from Act 1, Scene 2 of the English opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: John Brooke, Laurie's tutor. Suitor and then husband to Meg.

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: The path in front of the March house.

Synopsis: Brooke professes his love for Meg hidden in a story during "Rigmarole", a game played by the March sisters.

from Act 1, Scene 2 of the English opera Little Women by Mark Adamo

Libretto: Mark Adamo

Role: Meg March, The oldest March daughter. Marries John Brooke.

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: The hall in the March house.

Synopsis: Meg tries to explain to Jo that her marriage to Brooke is not a betrayal of her sister.

from Prologue of the English opera Blake by Leslie Adams

Libretto: Daniel Mayers

Role: Blake, 30 year-old slave on a southern plantation, husband of Miranda

Voice Part: tenor

Setting: a plantation in the Deep South, the United States, early 1860s

Synopsis: Blake muses on his past, considers his present plight and future destiny.

from Act IV of the English opera Blake by Leslie Adams

Libretto: Daniel Mayers

Role: Blake, 30 year-old slave on a southern plantation, husband of Miranda

Voice Part: tenor

Setting: the Great Dismal Swamp, southern Virginia, 1861

Synopsis: Blake responds to his supporters after being initiated into a brotherhood fellowship in this arioso.

from Act I, Scene 3 of the English opera Blake by Leslie Adams

Libretto: Daniel Mayers

Role: Isabella Ballard, house guest on the Stevens plantation, sister of Judge Ballard

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: a plantation in the Deep South, the United States, early 1860s

Synopsis: Isabella sings a sharp, dramatic deunciation of Miranda for being too bold and proud, vowing, "...the ashes of your soul will warm my heart!"

from Act III, Scene 2 of the English opera Blake by Leslie Adams

Libretto: Daniel Mayers

Role: Miranda, slave on a southern plantation, wife of Blake

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: the Ballard home, Charleston, South Carolina, early 1860s

Synopsis: Miranda comments on her adverse relationship with her mistress, Isabella, vowing to flee than go with on a trip with her mistress; then, imagining her baby Little Joe as she once held him in her arms, sings a tender lullaby.

from Act I, Scene 3 of the English opera Blake by Leslie Adams

Libretto: Daniel Mayers

Role: Miranda, slave on a southern plantation, wife of Blake

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: a plantation in the Deep South, the United States, early 1860s

Synopsis: After her master decides to give her to Isabella Ballard which will separate her from her husband Blake, Miranda prays for deliverance from bondage.

from Act II, Scene 2 of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Arline, daughter of Count Arnheim, raised in a gypsy camp

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: A street fair in Presburg

Synopsis: A troop of gypsies is performing at a street fair in Presburg. The featured soloist is Arline, who leads this song. The chorus joins her on the refrains.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Arline, daughter of Count Arnheim, raised in a gypsy camp

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: A gypsy camp, near Presburg

Synopsis: Arline, daughter of Count Arnheim, has been raised in a gypsy camp. She has no conscious memory of her father, from whom she was separated when a child. She tells Thaddeus, a Polish exile who has also been living with the gypsies for several years, of a dream she had.

from Act III of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Arline, daughter of Count Arnheim, raised in a gypsy camp

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: A hall in Count Arnheim's castle

Synopsis: Arline, daughter of Count Arnheim, has been raised in the gypsy camp. While there she fell in love with Thaddeus, a Polish exile who also lived with the gypsies. She has recently been reunited with her father and now lives in his castle. While secretly visiting her there, Thaddeus was caught. He reveals his true heritage to the Count and the others. Moved by the young couple's love, the Count agrees to forget about past political feuds, and he blesses their marriage. Arline sings of her delight.

from Act I of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Count Arnheim, governor of Presburg

Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass

Setting: The grounds near Count Arnheim's castle on the Danube

Synopsis: The Count and his men are preparing for a hunt. Before they leave, the Count sings of the joys of a soldier's life. Later he says goodbye to his daughter Arline (a child in this act).

from Act II, Scene 4 of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Count Arnheim, governor of Presburg

Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass

Setting: The Count's apartment in the Hall of Justice

Synopsis: Twelve years ago, the Count's daughter went missing and he has given up hope of finding her again. Viewing a picture of her, he recollects her fondly.

from Act I of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Florestein, Count Arnheim's effeminate nephew

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: buffo tenor

Setting: The grounds near Count Arnheim's castle on the Danube

Synopsis: Florestein has accompanied his uncle, the Count Arnheim, on a hunt. With him is his cousin, the count's daughter Arline (a child in this act). When they are attacked by a wild stag, Florestein rushes back to the castle in fright.

from Act III of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Thaddeus, a Polish exile and fugitive

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: lyric tenor

Setting: A hall in Count Arnheim's castle

Synopsis: Count Arnheim's daughter Arline was kidnapped as a child and raised by gypsies. She has recently been reunited with her father and is living in his castle, but she has fond memories of the gypsy camp and Thaddeus, the man she loved. Thaddeus now comes to her window and sings this serenade.

from Act I of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Thaddeus, a Polish exile and fugitive

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: lyric tenor

Setting: The grounds near Count Arnheim's castle on the Danube

Synopsis: While fleeing from the Austrian soldiers chasing him, Thaddeus comes to Count Arnheim's castle. Recognizing the statue of the Austrian emperor, he realizes the castle is sympathetic to his enemy.

from Act III of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: Thaddeus, a Polish exile and fugitive

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: lyric tenor

Setting: A hall in Count Arnheim's castle

Synopsis: An exiled Polish prince, Thaddeus has lived with a gypsy band for several years. There he met Arline, daughter of Count Arnheim, who was abducted as a child and grew up with the gypsies. The two were in love, but Arline has reunited with her father and now lives in his castle. While secretly visiting her there, Thaddeus has been discovered. Arline defends Thaddeus before her father, saying that she loves him even though he is a gypsy. Thaddeus then surprises them both by announcing his true heritage.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: The Queen of the Gypsies

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: A gypsy camp, near Presburg

Synopsis: The Queen is in love with Thaddeus, a young man in the camp. However, he prefers Arline. Before the entire company of gypsies, Arline has declared her love for Thaddeus and her desire to marry him. After some hesitation, the Queen blesses the union. Then, she expresses her sorrow in a ballad.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the English opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe

Libretto: Alfred Bunn

Role: The Queen of the Gypsies

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: A gypsy camp, near Presburg

Synopsis: The Queen is in love with Thaddeus, a young man in the camp. However, he prefers Arline. Before the entire company of gypsies, Arline has declared her love for Thaddeus and her desire to marry him. After some hesitation, the Queen blesses the union. After the others have left, she expresses her sorrow in this aria.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the German opera Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven

Libretto: Joseph Sonnleithner

Role: Florestan, a prisoner, the husband of Leonora

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: The dungeon of a prison near Seville

Synopsis: Imprisoned and close to death, Florestan sings that even though his life is now joyless, he can find solace because he has done his duty and he knows that what he did was right. He then thinks that he sees a vision of his wife Leonora coming as an angel to lead him to heaven.