Christopher Sly is anopera in one act and two scenes and an interlude by composerDominick Argento. The work uses an English language libretto by John Gay Manlove that is based onWilliam Shakespeare'sThe Taming of the Shrew. Commissioned by theMu Phi Epsilon fraternity, the opera was given its world premiere at the Scott Hall Theater at theUniversity of Minnesota on 31 May 1963 under the baton of William Johnson. The premiere cast included tenorVern Sutton as the Lord.[1]
TheCenter for Contemporary Opera presented the first professional production of the work in January 1987 at the Harry De Jur Playhouse in New York City. ConductorRichard Marshall led the performance whose cast includedShawn Roy as Christopher Sly,Robert Trentham as the Lord, andKathryn Fields as Marion Hackett.[2]
| Role[3] | Voice type |
|---|---|
| Christopher Sly,a tinker | bass-baritone |
| Henry Pimpernel,a smith | bass-baritone |
| PeterTurph,a tailor | tenor |
| Marion Hacket,hostess of the ale-house | mezzo-soprano |
| A Lord | tenor |
| A Page | soprano |
| First Huntsman | baritone |
| Second Huntsman | tenor |
| Third Huntsman | bass |
| First Lady | soprano |
| Second Lady | soprano |
| An officer of the Law | spoken |
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|---|---|---|
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