John Duffy Web Site
Black Water Page
Reviews & Articles
"Oates' New Bout"
U.S.1 Newspaper (Princeton, NJ)
April 23, 1997
Philadelphia City Paper
April 24-May 1, 1997, p26
Philadelphia Inquirer
April 29, 1997, F1, 5
New York Times
May 3, 1997, p21
Allentown Morning Call
May 2, 1997, D12
"Going to the Opera . . . with Joyce Carol Oates"
Opera News
January 3, 1998 v62 n8 p26-29
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Black Water
Music by JOHN DUFFY
Libretto by JOYCE CAROL OATES
(based on her novel)
Premier directed by GORDON EDELSTEIN
Conducted by ALAN JOHNSON
American Music Theater Festival
Philadelphia, PA
April 24 to May 4, 1997
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Place: The fictitious island of Mt. Grayling, a brief ferry ride from Boothbay Harbor, Me.
OVERTURE
DARKNESS. A gathering sound of nocturnal insects, churning and dripping water.
Requiem Aeternam et Lux Perpetua et Lux Perpetua
CHORUS (incantatory):
You're an American girl you love your life.
You're an American girl you believe you have chosen it.
You're an American girl you will live forever.
As the black water filled her lungs, and she died.
In the night, in the swamp,
nocturnal creatures in their frenzy
of copulation, procreation—
So Many! You would not think God would make so many!
And forget so many!
As the black water filled her lungs, and she died.
KELLY'S VOICE: No!
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Revised Sun, May 4, 2003
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