The Telephone
Comic opera by Gian Carlo Menotti
The composer in 1944
LibrettistMenotti
LanguageEnglish
Premiere
February 18, 1947 (1947-02-18)
Heckscher Theater, New York City

The Telephone, or L'Amour à trois is an English-language comic opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti, both words and music. It was written for production by the Ballet Society and was first presented on a double bill with Menotti's The Medium at the Heckscher Theater, New York City, February 18–20, 1947. The Broadway production took place on May 1, 1947, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Metropolitan Opera Company presented it once, at the Lewisohn Stadium, on July 31, 1965.[1][2]

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, February 18, 1947
(Conductor: Jascha Zayde)
Lucy England coloratura soprano Marilyn Cotlow
Ben Upthegrove baritone Frank Rogier

Synopsis

Ben, bearing a gift, comes to visit Lucy at her apartment; he wants to propose to her before he leaves on a trip. Despite his attempts to get her attention for sufficient time to ask his question, Lucy is occupied with interminable conversations on the telephone. Between her calls, when Lucy leaves the room, Ben even takes the risk of trying to cut the telephone cord, though his attempt is unsuccessful. Not wanting to miss his train, Ben leaves without asking Lucy for her hand in marriage. But Ben makes one last attempt: He calls Lucy from a telephone booth outside on the street and makes his proposal. She consents, and the two join in a romantic duet over the phone line, at the end of which Lucy makes sure that Ben remembers her phone number.

Recordings

Film and video

Discography

  • The Medium, The Telephone, Elizabeth Hertzberg, Lorenzo Grante, Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, Flavio Emilio Scogna, Brilliant Classics 95361, 2018.

References

  1. Internet Broadway Database: The Telephone / The Medium Production Credits
  2. Metropolitan Opera Database
  3. Morrison, Richard (August 10, 2020). "The Telephone review — a little comic gem". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  4. Nockin, Maria (October 3, 2020). "BWW Review: Parea Series: The Telephone at Home Computer Screens". Broadway World. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
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