The Hero (opera)
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The Hero is a three-act opera by Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti commissioned by the Opera Company of Philadelphia, to celebrate the United States Bicentennial. The work premiered at the Philadelphia Academy of Music on June 1, 1976. At this point of his career, Menotti's style of composition, which rejected the avant-garde, was out of favor with the classical music world. Time stated in its review of the opera, "Most of Menotti's music is passable Puccini: melodic, easy to take—and totally beside the point in 1976."
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 1 June 1976 (Conductor: Christopher Keene) |
|---|---|---|
| David Murphy | baritone | Dominic Cossa |
| Mildred Murphy, David’s wife | mezzo-soprano | Diane Curry |
| Barbara, David’s cousin | soprano | Nancy Shade |
| Dr. Briankoff | tenor | David Griffith |
| The Mayor | bass | Gary Kendall |
| The Shopkeeper | bass | Walter Knetlar |
| The Jeweler | tenor | William Austin |
| The Guide | baritone | Richard Shapp |
| Husband of tourist couple #1 | baritone | Jonathan Reinhold |
| Wife of tourist couple #1 | mezzo-soprano | Fredda Rakusin |
| Husband of tourist couple #2 | tenor | Paul Spencer Adkins |
| Wife of tourist couple #2 | soprano | Hazelita Fauntroy |
Notes