Thomas Pasatieri God Bless Us, Every One! Opera in one act, libretto by Michael Capasso and Bill Van Horn, based on the writings of Charles Dickens. Co-Production by University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and Dicapo Opera Theatre John Nardolillo, Conductor WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING God Bless Us, Every One! Opera in One Act PROGRAM NOTES............Michael Capasso, Bill Van Horn Music..............................Thomas Pasatieri In the 1990s, Dicapo produced an adaptation of Libretto....Michael Capasso, Bill Van Horn Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. That experience (Based on the writings of Charles Dickens) left us deeply impressed with the honest sentiments of Conductor.........................John Nardolillo brotherhood and generosity expressed in this little Stage Director..................Michael Capasso story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Spirits of Premiere Recording, co-produced by University Christmas. We wanted to further explore Dickens’ of Kentucky Opera Theatre, Everett McCorvey, themes, to bring these characters to life in an operatic Executive Producer and Dicapo Opera Theatre, NYC, form. To accomplish this task, we turned to Thomas Michael Capasso, General Director, and Pasatieri to transform these famed literary characters Diane Martindale, Artistic Director CAST: into musical ones. Maestro Pasatieri had long wanted Scrooge...............................Marc Embree to set Dickens’ tale into an opera, but we brought him a Tim Cratchit........................Jonathan Hare challenge: what about a sequel to Dickens’ original tale, a Elizabeth...........Catherine Clarke Nardolillo story that would bring Scrooge, his nephew Fred, and Tim Fred........................................... Willy Falk Cratchit to the shores of America? God Bless Us, Every Fan...................................Julie LaDouceur One! suggests what might have happened twenty years Beau Braxton..............Nicholas Provenzale after the famous final line of Dickens’ original tale. Bob Cratchit...................Duncan Hartman We have used another Dickens short story as our Mr. Braxton/Elizabeth’s Father..Gary Ramsey source material for this new saga of Scrooge and the Governess...........................Selena Moretz Cratchits. The Story of Richard Doubledick is a tale of Sergeant/Businessman.....Stephen Lavonier Soldier I........................Mitchell Hutchings Soldier II..........................George Kasarjian Mrs. Cratchit.........................Kristen Lamb ENSEMBLE: Amanda Balltrip, Brian DuBois, Jenny Greene, Jonathan Harris, Duncan Hartman, Mitchell Hutchings, George Kasarjian, Kristen Lamb, Selena Moretz, Laura Parker, Rebecca Warren. Executive Director Everett McCorvey, UK Opera Theatre and General Director Michael Capasso, Dicapo Opera Theatre ■ 2 ■ loyalty and friendship during the Napoleonic Wars. It is partner in the firm and he and Ebenezer have en- a story that shares many of the themes Dickens ex- deavored to help the poor people of their London presses in A Christmas Carol. Our opera takes the plot district. The firm has become known far and wide of Doubledick, the characters of A Christmas Carol, as traders rich in generosity and kindness as much as and mixes them all into the turbulent years during the in business acumen. Scrooge did, indeed, become a American Civil War. second “father” to Tim Cratchit. He paid for the best After A Christmas Carol—the characters have medical treatment available at the time and Tim grown older, but Dickens’ lesson remains the same: we has become a healthy young man—only a trace of all stumble along the road of life, we all lose our way… a limp reminds his family that he had ever been but everyone deserves a second chance, deserves the sickly. At age 18 he joins the firm of Scrooge, Crat- blessing of redemption. Every one deserves a Merry chit and Marley. Meanwhile, Scrooge’s nephew Fred Christmas! has lost his wife and, after a period of mourning, left In our opera, much has changed since the night England with his young daughter Fan for America. Scrooge was visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley and His letters have inspired Tim with a longing for the Spirits of Christmas. Bob Cratchit has become a adventure in the New World... GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE: A SYNOPSIS London. Christmas 1862. The counting house of the financial firm of Scrooge, they will imitate. They raise a glass to his memory Cratchit & Marley. Ebenezer Scrooge, the company’s and the Spirits of Christmas. founder, has died. Friends and relations have gathered to In the now-empty office, the ghost of Scrooge drink to his life and to remember that it was at Christ- appears. He is jovial, amused that now he is a mastime when he was reborn many years ago. Bob wandering spirit like his predecessor, Jacob Marley. Cratchit and Scrooge’s nephew, Fred Taunton, have Scrooge resolves to help Tim Cratchit achieve his decided to close the business rather than carry on with- dreams in America. out its founder. The company funds will be dispersed The action switches to the London flat of Eliz- among the variety of charities that have come to de- abeth, Tim’s fiancée. In a letter to her father, she pend on the firm’s generous donations. writes that any money Tim might have received Young Timothy Cratchit, now 28, contemplates a from Scrooge’s will is gone, given to the poor. With trip to America with his fiancée Elizabeth. Fred endorses no prospects, Elizabeth’s father instructs her to the idea, paints a wondrous picture of life in New York return to the family home to look for a new match. City. Tim vows to join Fred . Once there, the two will Brokenhearted, she consents. start a business using Ebenezer Scrooge as the model The docks on the banks of the Thames. Scrooge, ■ 3 ■ in the guise of a ship’s officer, calls out the hours in Scrooge laments the horrors of war as Tim is carried bells. He watches as Tim waits for Elizabeth. She off the battlefield by Union survivors. arrives, but tells Tim her place is in England with her Months later. Fan escorts a woman to Tim’s hos- family. She will not be going with him to America. He is pital bed. It is Elizabeth. She has spent the last three devastated. But the Scrooge comforts him, bolsters his years deeply regretting her decision. Fan has written resolve, sets him aboard the ship bound for America. to her in London, telling her of Tim’s serious illness, Tim arrives on the streets of New York, alone, asking her to come and help him recover. Elizabeth, penniless and heartbroken. America is in the throes of still in love, has defied her father and sailed to Amer- a Civil War that has divided the country. Tim finds ica to be by Tim’s side. She begs Tim’s forgiveness Fred’s house and is greeted by his daughter Fan and and pledges to remain with him forever. her Governess. He learns that Fred has enlisted in the The war has ended. Fan meets and falls in love Army of the Potomac. Fan invites Tim inside to share with a young Southerner, Beau Braxton. They travel Christmas dinner with them. But Tim soon sinks into a to New York, Beau to ask Tim for Fan’s hand. Tim is deep melancholy. Scrooge describes his plight—“It’s reluctant at first, but with Scrooge’s urging, he grants a story we all know.” them permission to marry. The following Christmas Tim, now an alcoholic, is drafted by the Union Tim and Elizabeth are invited by Beau’s father to their Army where is a poor solider—insubordinate and Virginia plantation to celebrate Christmas and the usually drunk. Fred, now Major Taunton, finds Tim, sees engagement. But Tim is haunted by his Southern his pathetic state and resolves to help him. He feels surroundings. When he is introduced to Beau’s father, responsible for Tim’s welfare: it was he who urged him he is horrified to recognize him as the very Rebel to come to America. He challenges Tim to reclaim his officer who killed Fred Taunton. life and reject the path he has so far traveled in the Left alone Tim is consumed with feelings of New World. Tim is moved by Fred’s words and vows to hatred and revenge and draws his pistol. The ghosts return to his former ways with Fred’s assistance. of Scrooge and Fred intervene, imploring Tim to stay Time passes. The Civil War is in full swing; Major his hand. This man was only doing his duty, says Fred. Fred Taunton leads his men south. Tim has transformed Forgive him… as I have forgiven him… as all soldiers himself into a model soldier: brave, selfless, and dis- must forgive each other when war is over. Tim is ciplined—a natural leader. In a series of battles, Tim transformed— redeemed—once again. He is able to and Fred become celebrated throughout the ranks for raise a glass to the young couple, to their happy their valor. In an ambush by Rebel forces, Fred is shot marriage, and to his own wonderful life in his new and killed. Tim sees the man who fires the fatal shot. country. He offers the words he has spoken every He vows vengeance. But a blast of a Confederate Christmas for the last twenty years, “God bless us, mortar shell throws Tim’s broken body to the ground. every one!” ■ 4 ■ God bless us, every one! Scene TRACK 1 Tim The offices of the financial firm of Scrooge, A frightening thought now comes to Cratchit and Marley, London. December mind: that my life story leaves me behind. 1862. The Cratchit family is returning from The whirly gig... Ebenezer Scrooge’s funeral. Tim Cratchit is Fred now in his twenties, still walks with a slight Scrooge is dead, died last night... limp. His father, Bob Cratchit, now a man Elizabeth of 60, sits in the corner, his face a blank.