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New York Stories is a trilogy of English-language one-act operas (Broken Pieces, Just for the Night, and Cradle Song) by Daron Hagen, with a libretto by Hagen and Barbara Grecki first performed in its entirety by Kentucky Opera in Louisville, Kentucky, on 30 October 2010.
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Background and performance history
The operas are based on true stories. The first two skits originated as playlets by Barbara Grecki and were adapted by Hagen as he musicalized them. The third skit libretto is by Hagen and is a self-portrait of himself and spouse Gilda Lyons as new parents. "Hagen’s clever jabs at the state of contemporary classical music as the weary composers struggled with their fussy newborn made for a little inside humor." References are made by Hagen in the libretto to the couple's just having returned from a concert featuring music by Ned Rorem and David Del Tredici, among others. Later, the music quotes Elliott Carter's Third String Quartet and several measures of Rorem's artsong, "Early in the Morning".
Conceived both as a trilogy and as three free-standing skits, the first, Broken Pieces, is charming and romantic, the second, Just for the Night, is soulful and sad, and the third, Cradle Song, is warmly domestic and affectionate. The vocal demands of the three female and three male roles are designed for young artist training programs at professional opera companies and at universities. The composer has stipulated that staging in the theater is not preferable to recital, agitprop, site-specific stagings in private homes, schools, and public spaces. He has also stipulated that the trilogy may be cast with as few as two singers and as many as six, in addition to multiple casting. Each opera lasts approximately 20 minutes. Optional music is included in the score of the complete trilogy for a "pantomime prelude" and scene changes.
Broken Pieces
Just for the Night
Cradle Song
New York Stories (complete)
Broken Pieces
Pamela lives alone with her cat on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Antonio, an Italian immigrant, arrives to fix the tiles in her bathroom. They share their stories and a romantic moment.
Just for the Night
Christmas Eve on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Middle-aged Babs is surprised by a visit from her brother Chip who, it emerges, has been living in a shelter. When he asks to stay the night, she turns him away.
Cradle Song
A married composer couple, Mama and Papa, live in Hamilton Heights. They arrive home after a night on the town and unsuccessfully attempt to put their child down for the night.