Carry Nation found only in United States
By Linda Sleffel
Carry Nation is a nuting subject for an opera because she is one of the "strange, gusty, flamboyant American characters who could not exist anywhere but in the United States," Douglas Moore, composer of the Centennial opera about her, said last night.
Most figures in American history are "dangerous" to put on stage, Moore said, because they are so embalmed in legend that they are not real people. He cited such American figures as Billy Sunday and Amy Semple McPherson as similar to Carry Nation in their appeal. They are admittedly uncouth, he said, "but awfully interesting."
MOORE SPOKE last night in Swarthout Recital Hall on the problems encountered in writing an opera. The first of these is finding a suitable libretto. Since the libretto is a skeleton on which the music must be hung, it must not be so complete in itself that the music is an intrusion, Moore said.
For this reason, the best source is an original story, but these are hard to come by. Plays can be used best when they are freely adapted and cut to conform to the slower pace of opera. Plays available for operas are also scarce,
though, Moore said, because there is more money in musical comedies.
Other sources are novels, which must be cut greatly, short stories, myths and historical subjects such as Carry Nation.
MOORE ALSO discussed the difficulties encountered in selecting an ending for the Centennial opera. In the original libretto, Carry was a ridiculous figure at the end, but Moore felt this was an inappropriate ending. "You want to leave the audience exhibited at the end," he said. But a stylized ending in which Carry was presented with a Bible and a hatchet seemed false. Finally he and William North Jayme, the librettist, agreed on a three-part aria.
The first part shows Carry's anguish at the death of her husband; in the second she asks for a cause, and in the third her fanatic opposition to alcohol appears, repeating the fanatic voices heard earlier in the opera.
"It seemed to work and have the right impact," Moore said. "I think the Carry Nation we presented was a very real person."
He described the "warm, affectionate and skillful co-operation" of the people who worked with him on the opera and the friendly reception of audiences.
HUMANITIES SERIES
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Irish scholar to lecture
W. Bedell Stanford, an Irish scholar of classical literature who is also a poet, a senator in the Irish Parliament, and a radio and television personality, will give the Humanities Series lecture at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Forum room of the Kansas Union.
Stanford, Regius professor at Trinity College in Dublin and presently Sather professor of classical literature at the University of California, will speak on "The Emotional Power of Greek Tragedy."
Elmer F. Beth, professor of journalism and Humanities Committee chairman, said that Stanford's visit will demonstrate that the humanities are not an intellectually-segregated corner of liberal arts.
"DURING HIS Kansas visit, he will speak on pop singing, dancing, drama, political science, theater architecture and Greek mythology," Beth said. "His own
At 3:30 p.m. Thursday, he will address a Student Union Activities coffee-forum on the topic of "Why Can Pop Singers Excite More Emotionalism than Drama?" in the Big Eight room of the Union.
interests show that the humanities embrace the many cultural, aesthetic, and human aspects of living."
He also will speak to various classes and interested groups Thursday and Friday.
He has traveled and lectured widely in Europe, especially in Greece.
Stanford holds M.A. and Litt.
D. degrees, and is a member of
the Royal Irish Academy. He is
one of three Senators representing
Dublin in Parliament, and has been the Irish delegate to parliamentary conferences in other European centers.
Daily Kansan
4
Tuesday, May 3, 1966