SKU: A0.730481

The Discontented Housewife FULL ORCHESTRAL SCORE ONLY, A Comic Opera in One Ridiculously Short Act Music and Libretto by James Nathaniel Holland

Composer Website: https://www.facebook.com/jamesnathanielholland/
YouTube presentation of entire opera with singers and piano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAGjuXCvwzE (Duration: 30')
In Czech, fully realized production:  https://youtu.be/raDiBJAaM_0?si=Yzim2ifUyviLoKRD 

Twenty some odd years before the Desperate Housewives phenomenon there was a discontented housewife named Margaret. Sung here by Colleen McGrath and Dennis Jesse as her husband Harold. Synopsis: This is the interesting story of Margaret. So begins the screwball one-act chamber opera about an emotionally abused housewife, and the extent she goes to change the situation life has dealt her. Not even the pianist is allowed to sit by and idly accompany Margaret's journey into self-empowerment. Is it a battle between the sexes? Certainly not. It's more like power, domination and the pure thrill of ordering others around.

ARTISTS NEEDED: Soprano (Coloratura) Margaret, Harold (Baritone)
ORCHESTRATION: Picc, fl12, ob12, cl12, bsn, hrn12, tpt, trm, timp, perc (or drum set), pno, strings. (Full Score in Concert Pitch)

Great vehicle for young artists. First premiered at DePauw University, Greencastle Indiana in 1987. Later performed by the New Jersey Concert Opera in 2004. Combine with either J.N. Holland's other one act operas The One Upstairs (comedy) and O Holy Art (tragedy) to make a complete opera evening entitled A New York Triptych All require same type of singers (with some addition and chorus) and same size of orchestra. Other operas also available and published, sold separately.

Please note: Although this is a farce, the orchestral should have solid players, an experienced conductor and enough rehearsal time should be given so that the piece won't fall apart in performance. Due to the comedic element, there are constantly shifting tempos and effects that a community or amateur orchestra/conductor might have difficulty with.

SKU: A0.730520

Full Orchestral Score . Piano vocal score and individual parts 1 and 2, sold separately. Moliere’s 300 year old play Le malade imaginaire is adapted into a three act comedic opera by American composer James Nathaniel Holland (adaption, music and libretto). It’s the story of a hypochondriac, studio mogul who is willing to marry off his daughter to his celebrity doctor’s son to save on expenses. From the other side, his ambitious, hypocritical wife is trying to swindle his fortune. Only his long-time secretary and partner can save him and unite his daughter with the young man who she actually loves. Set in 1930’s Los Angeles, Hollywood with early jazz elements, quasi musical numbers that will delight and tickle your audiences today. A small cast opera of about 8 singers (2 tenors, soprano, mezzo, coloratura, 2 baritones, and bass baritone) with no chorus and relatively small sized orchestra, this piece is perfect for any university or small opera house, and it’s libretto is originally in English. Suitable for all audiences. Full orchestration: picc, fl12, asax12, cl12, bsn, hrn12, tpt, trom, timp (misc), drum set, pno, strings. Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes. Playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcbVsA36MCvU97UVaZdWAPdzkN8woFtw (Revised 2022 Version with 2 additional arias).

SKU: A0.730518

Instrument Parts 1 of 2 (Woowinds, Brass, Perc) . Full score, piano vocal score and individual parts (strings) sold separately. Moliere's 300 year old play Le malade imaginaire is adapted into a three act comedic opera by American composer James Nathaniel Holland (adaption, music and libretto). It's the story of a hypochondriac, studio mogul who is willing to marry off his daughter to his celebrity doctor's son to save on expenses. From the other side, his ambitious, hypocritical wife is trying to swindle his fortune. Only his long-time secretary and partner can save him and unite his daughter with the young man who she actually loves. Set in 1930's Los Angeles, Hollywood with early jazz elements, quasi musical numbers that will delight and tickle your audiences today. A small cast opera of about 8 singers (2 tenors, soprano, mezzo, coloratura, 2 baritones, and bass baritone) with no chorus and relatively small sized orchestra, this piece is perfect for any university or small opera house, and it's libretto is originally in English. Suitable for all audiences. Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes. Playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcbVsA36MCvU97UVaZdWAPdzkN8woFtw (Ver. 2022 with 2 new arias).

SKU: A0.730519

Instrument Parts 1 of 2 (Woowinds, Brass, Perc) . Full score, piano vocal score and individual parts (strings) sold separately. Moliere’s 300 year old play Le malade imaginaire is adapted into a three act comedic opera by American composer James Nathaniel Holland (adaption, music and libretto). It’s the story of a hypochondriac, studio mogul who is willing to marry off his daughter to his celebrity doctor’s son to save on expenses. From the other side, his ambitious, hypocritical wife is trying to swindle his fortune. Only his long-time secretary and partner can save him and unite his daughter with the young man who she actually loves. Set in 1930’s Los Angeles, Hollywood with early jazz elements, quasi musical numbers that will delight and tickle your audiences today. A small cast opera of about 8 singers (2 tenors, soprano, mezzo, coloratura, 2 baritones, and bass baritone) with no chorus and relatively small sized orchestra, this piece is perfect for any university or small opera house, and it’s libretto is originally in English. Suitable for all audiences. Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes. Playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcbVsA36MCvU97UVaZdWAPdzkN8woFtw (Ver. Revised 2022 with 2 new arias).

SKU: A0.1286761

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENTS PART 1 of 2 (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion).  This four act contemporary opera, original libretto and music, by 21st century American composer James Nathaniel Holland is the story of the triumph of Love over Evil, however delayed, and the power of keeping steadfast to one’s righteous promise.  

Based on the German fairy tale The Six Swans, in a kingdom, during Saxon times, the murderous daughter of an evil entity, Ravia, infiltrates and takes over the lives of a royal family due to the King’s rash promise to marry her many years before. 

The royal children are sent away by their father for safety to a hidden, woodland cottage, but Ravia discovers where they are and hexes the younger siblings, turning them into swallows.  Usha, the eldest, escapes and flees to the wilderness and is visited by the apparition of her dead mother who explains what is going on and that Usha must swear an oath of silence for six years to break the spell and change her siblings back into human form.

Five years pass and a dashing and kind king, Rohric, of another kingdom, finds Usha while hunting, falls in love with and marries her, but Usha must remain silent and cannot reveal who she is.  Ravia, who now is sole queen of the old kingdom, is invited by Rohric’s nobles with hope to secure a “proper� wedding for Rohric.  Usha is accused falsely of killing her own child by the two and is sentenced to be burned at the stake, but as the bell tolls she finally can declare her innocence.  To the crowd’s amazement her siblings change back, all truth is revealed, and for Ravia’s failure, she is dragged back to hell by demons.  

Singers:  King Alfred (bass), Ravia (soprano), Princess Usha (mezzo), Queen Mother Arna (soprano), the royal siblings (children’s/boy’s chorus), King Rohric (Tenor), The Evil Noble (baritone), An angel/a demon (bass), SATB Chorus

Scored for full orchestra.  Instrumentation:  picc/treble recorder, fl12, ob12, eh, cl12, bsn12, hrn 123, tpt123, trom12, tba, timp, perc.12 (bd, crash cym, ride cym with soft mallets and stick, small gong, wood blk, glk, chimes, snar, tri), hrp, strings

Duration:  2 hours
Full Orchestral Score (concert pitch), Piano Vocal Score and Instruments Parts 1 (woodwinds, brass, perc.) and Parts 2 (harp and strings) sold separately.

SKU: A0.730451

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENT PARTS Only (Full Score, Vocal Piano Score sold separately). Does not include vocal parts. O HOLY ART A Tragic Opera in One Act (Opera in English) (Opera duration: 1 hour and 20 minutes) Libretto and Music by James Nathaniel Holland
 
Combine with Holland operas called A New York Triptych The Discontented Housewife (Farce) and The One Upstairs (comedy) (both sold separately) for a full length evening of fun and accessible American contemporary opera.
 
Instrumentation: Picc, Fl12, Ob12, Cl12, Bsn, Hrn12, Trp, Trom, Tim, Perc (or Drm set), glock, piano, strings
 
Singers: Baritone Lead, 2 Sopranos, Bass, 2 Broadway Altos (could double roles), 1 Actor Speaking part, SATB Chorus
 
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: What happens when a struggling, unknown composer attends a friend's New Year's Eve Party and meets a famous composer who offers to show the work to his agent? Never famous enough, Djeno (baritone), is always rejected and the meeting with the famous composer's agent proves the same. Telling them to do whatever with the piece, it is appropriated by the famous composer and is a hit.
 
Hearing the piece on the radio and sung by his soprano best friend, Djeno can take no more and commits suicide. His friend must deal with the aftermath of her betrayal.
 
Musical theater/opera hybrid. Perfect opera university or young voices. Poignant commentary on our time and the superficial, over-importance fame plays in it. Beautiful, accessible music.