{{Short description|Opera by Robert J. Bradshaw}} {{italic title}} '''''.Gabriel''''' (pronounced "dot Gabriel") is an opera in two acts (to be performed continuously) written by American composer Robert J. Bradshaw.<ref name="American Record Guide">''American Record Guide'' Nov–Dec 2010, p. 95</ref> The libretto, also by Bradshaw, was inspired by the composer's online experiences with social networking websites, instant messaging, chat rooms and email correspondence.<ref name="BeauportScore">''.Gabriel'', Program/Notes, score published by Beauport Press</ref> The opera was commissioned by the Australian Trumpet Guild for performance at the 35th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild, 2010, Sydney, Australia.<ref name="ITG Review">International Trumpet Guild Review of premiere performance of ''.Gabriel''</ref> Also in 2010, the composition was awarded an American Music Center Composer Assistance Program Grant <ref name="American Music Center Composer Assistance Program">American Music Center Composer Assistance Program 2010 Awards List</ref> and was named winner of a 2009 Boston Metro Opera Mainstage Award.<ref name="BMO">Boston Metro Opera Mainstage Award Announcement</ref>
==About the opera==
Program notes<ref name="BeauportScore"/> (included in the published score) state: <blockquote>''.Gabriel'' is an allegory for society's increasing perception of connection to the world through the Internet, while in fact separating ourselves from physical interaction. The false perception of safety and protection (and ultimate isolation) of electronic relationships at times promotes posting statements or images people would never consider saying (or doing) in person.<ref name="NewYorkTimesArticle">''The New York Times'', "On Networking Sites, Learning How Not to Share"</ref> Although Principal interacts with the other members of the cast, they never come in contact with each other. A scrim represents the physical barrier (the computer screen) that separates Principal from the living world around her."<ref name=autogenerated2>Gabriel, Program/Notes</ref></blockquote>
''.Gabriel'' is a composition where the trumpet performs as one of the main characters, interacting on stage with the vocalists.<ref name="OperaAustralia">Opera Australia Article titled ''New opera features trumpet in main role''</ref> The three vocal roles represent different aspects of social interaction. "Principal represents society's dependency on the Internet, computers and electronic communication."<ref name="BeauportScore" /> She lives alone and is consumed by her need to be "connected". There are also two minor male roles that act as Principal's memories. One is the positive spirit of social relationships and the other is the actual situations where social interaction is required.<ref name="American Record Guide"/>
==Concert premiere==
''.Gabriel'' was premiered at the Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music (July 8, 2010).<ref name="ITG Review"/> The two principal roles were performed by Joshua Clarke (Yamaha Performing Artist and Principal Trumpet of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra) <ref name="JoshuaClarke">Joshua Clarke Biography</ref> and Jane Parkin (Opera Australia Artist and member of the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program) <ref name="JaneParkin">Jane Parkin Biography</ref> In March 2010, scenes from the opera sung by Tina Milhorn Stallard, who sang Principal in the premiere recording, had been previewed at the Palm Beach Atlantic University New Music Festival.<ref>Stepanich, Greg. [http://www.pbpulse.com/music/2010/03/16/new-music-festival-features-contemporary-classical-composers/comment-page-0/ "New Music festival features contemporary classical composers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724082733/http://www.pbpulse.com/music/2010/03/16/new-music-festival-features-contemporary-classical-composers/comment-page-0/ |date=2011-07-24 }}. ''The Palm Beach Post''. March 16, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-10.</ref>
==Roles== {| class="wikitable" !Role !Voice type !Premiere Cast<ref name="OperaAustralia"/><br> |- |Gabriel, ''Principal's unknown companion'' |Trumpet |Joshua Clarke |- |Principal, ''A young woman obsessed with the Internet'' |Soprano |Jane Parkin |- |Memory I, ''A persistent memory trying to resurface in Principal's mind'' |Tenor |Samuel Sakker |- |Memory II, ''A persistent memory trying to resurface in Principal's mind'' |Bass-baritone |Christopher Hillier |- |}
{| class="wikitable" !Instrument !Musician |- |Clarinet |Peter Jenkins |- |Viola |Virginia Commerfod |- |Bassoon |Matthew Ockenden |- |Piano |Tony Legge |- |Conductor |Tony Legge |- |}
==Staged premiere==
''.Gabriel'' was first staged in America on February 25–26, 2011, by the Boston Metro Opera. The performances took place at Hope Central Church in the historic Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain.<ref name=autogenerated1>Boston Metro Opera Concert Program</ref> These performances were announced on December 1, 2009, when the opera won a BMO Mainstage Award.<ref name="BMO"/>
{| class="wikitable" !Character !Voice type !Premiere Cast<br> |- |Gabriel, ''Principal's unknown companion'' |Trumpet |Kathryn Driscoll |- |Principal, ''A young woman obsessed with the Internet'' |Soprano |Sarah Mayo |- |Memory I, ''A persistent memory trying to resurface in Principal's mind'' |Tenor |Christopher Aaron Smith |- |Memory II, ''A persistent memory trying to resurface in Principal's mind'' |Bass-baritone |Stewart Kramer |- |}
{| class="wikitable" !Instrument !Musician |- |Piano |Eve K. Budnick |- |}
==First recording==
''.Gabriel'' was recorded by the Palmetto Camerata at the University of South Carolina (January 5–7, 2010) and released by Beauport Classical (BC41009) on CD in 2010.<ref name="CD Baby">CD Baby (CD Distributor) ''.Gabriel'' listing</ref> The recording features Tina Milhorn Stallard (soprano) and James Ackley (trumpet) performing the principal roles.<ref name="American Record Guide"/>
thumb|The Palmetto Camerata, .GABRIEL Recording Session, January 5, 2010
{| class="wikitable" !Role !Voice type !Recording Cast<br>(Engineer: Jeff Francis) |- |Gabriel, ''Principal's unknown companion'' |Trumpet |James Ackley |- |Principal, ''A young woman obsessed with the Internet'' |Soprano |Tina Milhorn Stallard |- |Memory I, ''A persistent memory trying to resurface in Principal's mind'' |Tenor |Walter Cuttino |- |Memory II, ''A persistent memory trying to resurface in Principal's mind'' |Bass-baritone |Jacob Will |- |}
{| class="wikitable" !Instrument !Musician |- |Clarinet |Joseph Eller |- |Viola |Constance Gee |- |Bassoon |Michael Harley |- |Piano |Joseph Rackers |- |Conductor |Neil Casey |- |}
==Notes and references== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== *{{official website|http://www.gabrieltheopera.com}} *[http://www.americanrecordguide.com American Record Guide]{{full citation needed|date=October 2017}} *[http://www.amc.net/data/pressreleases/2010-06-10ComposerAssistanceProgram.pdf American Music Center Composer Assistance Program 2010 Awards List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713035704/http://www.amc.net/data/pressreleases/2010-06-10ComposerAssistanceProgram.pdf |date=2010-07-13 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110608041802/http://www.opera-australia.org.au/scripts/nc.dll?OPRA:STANDARD:0:pc=PC_90859 "New opera features trumpet in main role"], Opera Australia *Score: Bradshaw, Robert J. (2009), ''.Gabriel'', Beauport Press, Gloucester, Massachusetts. {{ISBN|978-0-9822775-1-5}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110102204802/http://www.beauportclassical.com/Beauport_Classical/Artist_Series.html Sound Recording: Robert J. Bradshaw's ''.Gabriel''. The Palmetto Camerata. Beauport Classical, 2010.] *Young, Neville. ".Gabriel by Robert Bradshaw". ''ITG Journal'' of the International Trumpet Guild. October 2010. Vol. 35, No. 1 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120305234425/http://www.trumpetguild.org/2010conference/2010conference/ITG2010.0708.pdf International Trumpet Guild Conference Review (Online Reference, Page 5)] *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110911020603/http://www.bostonmetroopera.com/bmodecember-2009---01.html Boston Metro Opera Mainstage Award]}} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110911020619/http://www.bostonmetroopera.com/gabriel---overview.html Boston Metro Opera Performance Details and Program]}} *{{cite news |author=Riva Richmond |date=January 28, 2009 |title=On Networking Sites, Learning How Not to Share |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/technology/personaltech/29basics.html |newspaper=The New York Times |page=B5}} *[https://archive.today/20080724113012/http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/artists/joshua_clarke.asp Joshua Clarke Biography (Yamaha Performing Artist and Principal Trumpet with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110608041816/http://www.opera-australia.org.au/scripts/nc.dll?OPRA:STANDARD:0:pc=PC_90479 Jane Parkin Biography (Opera Australia)] *[http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/PalmettoCamerata CD Baby (CD Distributor) ''.Gabriel'' listing] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101119151830/http://www.australiantrumpetguild.com/itg2010/ International Trumpet Guild Conference 2010]
==External links== *[http://www.opera-australia.org.au Opera Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821162158/http://www.opera-australia.org.au/ |date=2008-08-21 }} *[http://www.music.sc.edu University of South Carolina School of Music] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707220601/http://www.beauportpress.com/Compositions/Opera.html Beauport Press (Publisher)] *{{cite web |author=Robert J. Bradshaw |title=Behind the Scenes: The sonata for trumpet and strings (or piano) Premiere Project |url=http://sonatapremiereproject.info |access-date=2018-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713165048/http://www.sonatapremiereproject.info/ |archive-date=2017-07-13 |url-status=dead }} *[http://www.robertjbradshaw.com Robert J. Bradshaw] *[http://www.jamesackley.com James Ackley] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130719014352/http://tinamilhornstallard.com/ Tina Milhorn Stallard]
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Category:Operas Category:2010 operas Category:English-language operas