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Overview

Synopsis

Set on the remote island of Inishmaan, Vaughan-William鈥檚 intensely tragic opera is based on J.M. Synge鈥檚 play Riders to the Sea. Before the opera starts, Maurya has lost her husband, his father, and five of their sons to the sea. One son is still missing and the family is awaiting news of any remains being washed up on the shore. The priest has given Nora, the younger sister, some clothing which was taken off a drowned man, and asked her to find out if they belong to Michael. She and her sister Cathleen put the things away hurriedly as their mother, Maurya wakes up; they don鈥檛 want to worry her.

Bartley rushes in making preparations to leave, and his mother begs him not to leave, cursing and scolding him for going. He has to take the horses to the fair, and he cannot miss this boat. At Cathleen鈥檚 insistence, Maurya follows him a short while after, with the intention of giving him her blessing instead of leaving him with a 鈥榙ark word鈥�. When she returns she is distraught and almost in a trance. She has seen the ghost of her missing son, Michael, riding on the pony behind Bartley. For Maurya, this is a sign that her last remaining son will be lost to the sea. As she lists the children she has lost to the sea, the sound of keening confirms her vision. Bartley鈥檚 body is brought in and Maurya prays for Bartleys soul as a bleak calm settles over her.

Vaughan-Williams sets Synge鈥檚 play to music with very few changes, capturing the lilting rhythms of the Irish dialect which is woven into Synge鈥檚 language. The surging and rushing of the violent sea and the chilling wind can be heard in this thrilling score, and they sweep a listener away onto a tumultuous emotional journey with Maurya, a mother in mourning.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Riders to the Sea by John Millington Synge
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
1937
Genres
Drama, Tragedy
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
Aran Islands, Inishmaan, Ireland, 1900
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
None
Ideal For
Chamber Opera, College/University, Mature Audiences, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Opera, Small Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult, Adult Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Cathleen

Lead

Female

Soprano

Nora

Lead

Female

Soprano

Bartley

Lead

Male

Baritone

Maurya

Lead

Female

Contralto

Chorus of keening women

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto

Songs

Riders to the Sea is a through-composed piece without strict scene delineations. Guidelines given here are intended to give a general idea of the different events which occur through the opera, and which characters are involved. Scene titles are author鈥檚 own.

Maurya is sleeping, something from the priest 鈥榃here is she?鈥� 鈥楽he鈥檚 lying down鈥� - Nora, Cathleen

Maurya wakes up 鈥業sn鈥檛 it turf enough you have鈥� - Maura, Cathleen, Nora

Bartley comes home 'Where is that bit of new rope, Cathleen鈥� - Bartley, Cathleen, Maurya, Nora

Bartley leaves 鈥楬e鈥檚 done now, God spare us鈥� - Maura, Cathleen, Nora

The sisters examine the items from the priest 鈥榃ait, Nora, maybe she鈥檇 turn back quickly鈥� - Cathleen, Nora

Maurya returns 鈥榊ou didn鈥檛 give him his bit of bread?鈥� - Maurya, Cathleen, Nora

Maurya鈥檚 vision 鈥�I went down to the spring well鈥� - Maurya, Cathleen, Nora

Maurya鈥檚 losses 鈥楤artley will be lost now鈥� - Maurya, Cathleen, Nora, Chorus of keening women

Bartley is brought home 鈥業s it Bartley it is?鈥� - Cathleen, A Woman, Nora, Maurya

It is finished 鈥�They are all gone now鈥� - Maurya, keening women, Nora, Cathleen

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.

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Scenes

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.