Overview
Synopsis
Tom, a happy go lucky young man, is in love with a young girl, Anne, but Anne’s father, Truelove, has doubts about Tom’s character. Truelove urges Tom to find a “real� job, but Tom is resistant and would rather rely on luck than work to make money. When Tom makes a wish that he had money, a mysterious man, Nick Shadow, appears and tells Tom that an unknown uncle has left him a substantial fortune. Tom is very excited by his luck and heads of to London with Shadow to collect his fortune. London holds many trials and temptations for Tom and he quickly assumes the lifestyle of a rake. He finds himself in brothels, gambling, and even marries Baba the Turk, a bearded show woman. He seems to have lost his way and forgotten Anne, but Anne braves the city to find Tom and try and help him turn his life back around.
Stravinsky’s neo-classical score is a different kind of treat for opera lovers, but a most pleasing one. He plays with the classical style and more modern harmonies, he writes a through-composed opera, but has many elements of the classical style, and he even includes dialogue to keep the lighter feel of an operetta. The Rake’s Progress is a masterpiece by one of the 20th Century’s greatest composers and is a piece that will intrigue you musically, while compelling you to care deeply for its flawed protagonist.
Show Information
- Music
- Igor Stravinsky
- Lyrics
- W.H. Auden
- Based On Book By
- William Hogarth
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1951
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- england, 18th century
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Ideal For
- College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Bass |
Songs
- Prelude
Act One
- Duet & Trio - The woods are green (Anne, Tom, Truelove)
- Recit. - Anne my dear (Truelove, Anne, Tom)
- Recit. & aria - (Tom)
- Recit. - Tom Rakewell? (Shadow, Tom)
- Quartet - I wished but once (Tom, Shadow, Truelove, Anne)
- Recit. - I’ll call the coachman, sir (Shadow, Truelove)
- Duet - Farewell, farewell (Anne, Tom)
- Recit. - All is ready, sir (Shadow, Tom)
- Arioso & Trio - Dear Father Truelove (Tom, Anne, Truelove)
- Chorus - With air commanding (Chorus)
- Recit. & Scene - Come, Tom, I fain have our hostess (Tom, Shadow, Mother Goose)
- Chorus - Soon dawn will glitter (Chorus)
- Recit. - Brothers of Mars (Shadow)
- Aria - Love too frequently betrayed (Tom)
- Chorus - How sad a song (Chorus, Mother Goose)
- Chorus - The sun is bright (Chorus, Shadow)
- Recit and aria - (Anne)
Act Two
- Aria - Vary the song (Tom)
- Aria - Always the quarry (Tom)
- Recit. - Master are you alone (Shadow, Tom)
- Aria - (Shadow)
- Duet - My tale shall be told (Tom, Shadow)
- Recit. & Arioso - How Strange! Although the heart for love dare (Anne)
- Duet - Anne! Here! (Anne, Tom)
- Recit. - My love, am I to remain in here forever? (Baba, Tom, Anne)
- Trio - Could it then have been known? (Anne, Tom, Baba)
- Finale - I have not run away, dear heart (Baba, Tom, Chorus)
- Aria -
- Recit. - My heart is cold, (Tom)
- Recit. & Arioso - O I wish it were true (Tom, Shadow)
- Duet - Thanks to this excellent device (Tom, Shadow)
- Recit. - Forgive me, master (Shadow, Tom)
Act Three
- Scene & Chorus - Ruin! Disaster! (Chorus, Anne, Sellem)
- Recit. & Aria - Ladies both fair and gracious (Sellem)
- Aria - Sold! Annoyed! (Baba, Chorus, Tom, Shadow)
- Recit.- Now what was that? (Chorus, Baba, Sellem, Anne)
- Duet - You love him, seek to set him right (Baba, Anne, Sellem, Chorus)
- Ballad & Finale - If boys had wings (Tom, Shadow, Anne, Baba, Sellem, Chorus)
- Duet - How dark, how dark (Tom, Shadow)
- Recit. - Very well then (Shadow, Tom)
- Duet & Scene - My heart is wild with fear (Tom, Shadow, Anne)
- Arioso - Prepare yourselves (Tom, Chorus)
- Chorus - Minuet (chorus)
- Recit. - There he is have no fear (Keeper, Anne, Tom)
- Arioso - I have waited (Tom)
- Duet - In a foolish dream (Tom, Anne)
- Lullaby - Gently, little boat, (Anne, Chorus)
- Recit. - Anne, my dear, the tale is now ended (Truelove, Anne)
- Duet - Every wearied body (Truelove, Anne)
- Finale - Where art thou, Venus? (Tom, Chorus)
- Epilogue - Good people just a moment (Tutti)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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