Opium:c:Diaryof a Curean operainfive scenes

Instrumentation
1 Flute1 Clarinet in B-flat (written at instrument's pitch)
1 Horn in F (written at instrument's pitch)
1 Trumpet in B-flat (written at instrument's pitch)
1 Tenor Trombone
Timpani: 2 kettles, tuned to A and E••

The timpanist isoccasionally called on to play another percussion instrument. See
percussion parts for clarification.
Organ: unobtrusive tone, used primarily to match pitch with Mirror.
The only exceptions to the pitch matching occur in the Overture,in scene 1a, measures 58-61 in scene 2, and scene 5c. See
Rehearsal Score for clarification.
Accordion: Standard keyboard accordion, plays only before lights go up and after lights godown (Overture and scene 5c).
Percussion 1: The first percussionist's set should contain 1 snare drum, 1 triangle, asuspended crash cymbal, a pair of crash cymbals, and a vibraphone.
Percussion 2: The second percussionist's set should contain a snare drum, a set of fourtoms (either unpitched or rota toms), a bass drum (laid flat) a tam-tam or unpitchedgong, and orchestral (tubular) bells.
6 Violins (no 2nd violins)
4-6 Violas
4-6 Cellos
3 Contrabasses, preferably with extension or a fifth string. Those without an extension ora fifth string should double at the octave where required.

Performance Notes
Opium: Diary of a Cure runs between 90 and 100 minutes. If an intermission is desired, itshould be placed at the end of scene 2. There are no pauses between sections that makeup scenes 1, 3, and 5. (Most of the intra-scene sections have held notes connecting
them.) The music in the overture runs continuously into scene 1.

CastMirror
A choir of 12 voices, divided equally between SATB. Choir should either be unseen
behind the mirror prop, or should be worked into the design of the mirror itself. Choirmembers could be involved in events involving the mirror. The sonic effect should be akinto that of a Gregorian chant choir; tone should be even and with minimal vibrato. Whentwo pitches are written, basses and altos should sing the lower pitch in their best octave,
tenors and sopranos should sing the upper pitch in their best octave. (Appears in eve,ysection of the opera.)
JeanLyric Baritone. 35 years old, a poet and a drug addict. Through most of the opera theperformer plays not Jean, but Jean's spirit, as Jean's body lies in a coma. The body isresurrected during the fifth scene, and the performer then plays Jean the man. (Appearsin all sections of the opera except for sections 1a and Sc.)

HoTenor. Jean's (former?) lover, an Annamite revolutionary, 29 years old, also recoveringfrom opium addiction in the same hospital. (Appears in sections 1b, 1c, 3a, 3b, Sa, Sb,and Sc.)

Edith
Coloratura Soprano. Jean's nurse, 28 years old, in uniform. Addicted to her love of Angel,the orderly. (Appears in sections 1a, 1d, 2, 4, Sa, and Sb. She has no lines in scene 4.)Angel
Tenor. An orderly, Edith's lover, 20 years old. A buffoon, dressed in ill-fitting whites.
(Appears in sections 1d, 2, 4, Sa, and Sb.)
DoctorBass. Older than the others, carries books and equipment on and off stage. An unstablefellow, often nearly hysterical. (Appears in sections 2, 3a, 4, Sa, and Sb.}
PriestAlto. Trouser role. (Male character played by a woman.) Perhaps older still than theDoctor. Exaggeratedly self-assured. (Appears in sections 3a, 4, Sa, and Sb.)
SnakeDancing role. Lives on the other side of the mirror, and emerges periodically during thecourse of the action.

Opium: Diary of a Cure is printed from 12 computer files, divided as follows:
Overture
1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d2
3a and 3b4

Sa, Sb, and Sc.