Opera - Flight

JONATHAN DOVE (b. 1958)

Flight

129:12

An opera in three acts

Libretto by April De Angelis

live recording

Act I

'Look! Up there'

4:25

Refugee, Controller

'Darling!'

2:49

Bill, Tina, Refugee

'Excuse me. Have you any English money?'

1:10

Refugee, Bill, Tina

'Welcome travellers. Thank you for travelling Tri-Star'

0:55

Controller

'Do I look conspicuous?'

2:27

Older Woman, Refugee, Controller

'Welcome. We're always smiling as you can see'

3:02

Steward, Stewardess, Refugee, Older Woman

'Down you go. Scurry down'

3:04

Controller

'That's us.' 'Is that us?'

3:49

Minskman, Minskwoman, Controller, Older Woman

'No! I don't seem able to go'

3:28

Minkswoman, Minskman, Controller, Refugee

'What have I done?'

2:16

Minskwoman, Steward, Stewardess, Bill, Tina, Older Woman

'What have I just done? Why couldn't I go?'

1:14

Minskwoman

'Excuse me. Have you a hat or a scarf?'

3:07

Refugee, Older Woman, Stewardess, Steward, Tina, Bill, Controller

'Look who's coming!'

3:05

Controller, Refugee, Minskwoman, Bill, Tina, Older Woman, Steward, Stewardess

'Gone.' 'Time to be gone'

4:02

Refugee, Tina, Controller, Bill, Minskwoman, Older Woman, Steward, Stewardess

'Disgusting.' 'Record lusting'

3:20

Controller, Bill, Tina, Older Woman, Minskwoman

'Due to circumstances beyond our control'

1:47

Controller, Refugee

Act II

'The storm is getting worse'

2:30

Controller

'It's quiet'

7:00

Steward, Stewardess, Bill, Tina, Older Woman, Minskwoman

'I know. We could do the business with our trolleys'

1:44

Stewardess, Older Woman, Minskwoman, Steward, Tina, Bill

Orchestral interlude

1:10

'Fierce night. Jagged light'

1:34

Controller

'I bought this suitcase in New York'

5:36

Minskwoman, Steward, Stewardess, Bill, Refugee, Older Woman, Tina

'The thing about people is'

1:08

Controller

'About this stone. Is it true?'

5:59

Older Woman, Refugee, Tina, Bill, Minskwoman, Steward, Stewardess, Controller

'A wish for me. I'm wishing for my brother'

1:33

Refugee, Bill, Steward

'Excuse me, can I trouble you for some advice?'

1:49

Older Woman, Tina, Minskwoman, Stewardess, Bill

'What's this for?' 'Let's see . . .'

1:09

Bill, Steward, Older Woman, Tina, Stewardess, Minskwoman

'He's lucky'

1:39

Women, Refugee, Older Woman, Controller, Tina, Stewardess, Minskwoman

'You have a stone?'

1:13

Women, Refugee

'I believed in miracles'

3:36

Older Woman, Minskwoman, Stewardess, Tina, Refugee, Controller, Bill, Steward

Act II

'What a dreadful night'

1:16

Women, Controller

'A plane is coming!'

2:08

Controller, Older Woman

'I flew back immediately. I'm not angry'

2:53

Minskman, Minskwoman, Tina, Bill, Steward

'Oh my goodness!'

4:36

Bill, Tina, Steward, Stewardess

'Oh look, he isn't moving'

0:42

Stewardess, Older Woman, Minskwoman, Steward

'Ow!' 'What is it?'

3:06

Minskwoman, All

'It's so small'

1:05

All, Minskwoman

'New, wondrous, nothing so new as you'

7:14

Refugee, Tina, Stewardess, Older Woman, Controller, Minskwoman, Bill, Minskman

'He's coming back! Get in the trunk!'

2:52

Controller, Refugee, Immigration Officer, Women, Men

'Surely you can be magnanimous on such a day as this'

2:11

Minskman, Minskwoman, Immigration Officer, Tina, Steward, Stewardess

'You can't fool rules'

1:40

Immigration Officer, Older Woman, Bill, Steward, Tina, Refugee, Controller

'Dawn, still darkness . . .'

6:13

Refugee

'But look at me now'

2:35

Refugee, Immigration Officer, Stewardess, Older Woman, Minskwoman, Minskman

' . . .I can't do much for you . . .'

1:11

'Immigration Officer, Older Woman, Steward, Bill, Tina, Stewardess

' . . .Flights to Minsk and places smarter . . .'

3:04

Controller, Older Woman, Minskman, Minskwoman, Bill, Tina, Steward, Stewardess, Refugee

'A frozen man falling like a frozen star'

4:21

Refugee, Controller

Christopher Robson countertenor - Refugee

Claron McFadden soprano - Controller

Richard Coxon tenor - Bill

Mary Plazas soprano - Tina

Nuala Willis mezzo-soprano - Older Woman

Ann Taylor mezzo-soprano - Stewardess

Garry Magee baritone - Steward

Steven Page bass-baritone - Minskman

Anne Mason mezzo-soprano - Minskwoman

Richard van Allan bass-baritone - Immigration Officer

David Parry