''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' is a
chamber opera Chamber opera is a designation for operas written to be performed with a chamber ensemble rather than a full orchestra. Early 20th-century operas of this type include Paul Hindemith's ''Cardillac'' (1926). Earlier small-scale operas such as Pergoles ...
in two acts by
Richard Mills to a libretto by
Peter Goldsworthy, based on the play
of the same name by
Ray Lawler. The opera was commissioned by the
Victoria State Opera
The Victoria State Opera (VSO), based in Melbourne, Australia, was founded in Melbourne in 1962. The company, founded by Leonard Spira, was a move into grand opera by the then amateur Gilbert and Sullivan-oriented Victorian Light Opera Co. The n ...
and premiered on 19 October 1996 at the
Playhouse in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
. It lasts about two hours. It was live simulcast on
ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic, formerly ABC-FM (also ABC Fine Music), and then ABC Classic FM, is an Australian classical music radio station available in Australia and internationally. Its website features classical music news, features and listening guides. ...
on
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port Ja ...
(26 January) 1997
Mills also used this musical material for his ''Symphonic Picture from Summer of the Seventeenth Doll''.
For plot details, see the article on the play ''
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll''.
References
*
*
*
*{{cite web
, url = http://listserv.cuny.edu/Scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind9610d&L=opera-l&T=0&P=12697
, title = Summer of the 17th Doll (cast & critique)
, accessdate = 2007-07-10
, last = Burnett
, first = Ron
, date = 22 October 1996
, publisher = OPERA-L
Operas
English-language operas
1996 operas
Operas by Richard Mills
Operas set in Australia
Operas based on plays