MENOTTI, Gian Carlo 1911-2007

The Saint of Bleecker Street Musical Drama in Three Acts (Five Scenes) Words and Music by Gian-Carlo Menotti Stage Material With English and German Text. [Piano-vocal score]

New York: G. Schirmer [PN 43461], [1955].

Quarto. Original publisher's illustrated wrappers printed in colours. [i] (title), [i] (copyright and note), [i] (named cast list), [i] (blank), 307, [i] (blank) pp.

Wrappers very slightly worn.

First Edition.

"The Saint of Bleecker Street (1954), is a full-length piece in the broad and serious style of The Consul. It is an effective drama set in contemporary New York and concerned with the conflict of the physical and spiritual worlds. The opera received the Drama Critics’ Circle Award for the best play, the New York Music Critics’ Circle Award for the best opera and the Pulitzer Prize in music for 1955."

"Choral music was an important element in Amahl and The Saint of Bleecker Street; it is basic to the ‘madrigal fable’ The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore. Commissioned by the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation, it is one of Menotti’s most charming works. The model was the late Renaissance madrigal comedy (such as Vecchi’s L’amfiparnaso), and the work consists of an introduction, 12 madrigals (some a cappella) and six instrumental interludes." Bruce Archibald and Jennifer Barnes in Grove Music Online.

Item #27481

Price: $75.00  other currencies