The Scarlet Letter — Opera in 2 Acts

2008, rev. 2016 | 3 lead roles for soprano, tenor and baritone; 3 minor roles for mezzo-soprano, tenor and baritone, small chorus (at least 8), non speaking child’s role and chamber orchestra)

Full length opera in 2 Acts, to libretto by poet David Mason. Approximately 2 hours long, in 2 Acts (6 scenes). For more information please visit www.scarletletteropera.com. To purchase the Naxos recording please click here.

There are several stand-alone arias, which are published and available for PDF download on my site at MusicaNeo (available through the home page on this site). Glendower Jones of Classical Vocal Reprints also sells the hard copies.

• “Beyond All Price” — Hester’s Lullaby (soprano)
• “This Canopy of Trees” — another aria for Hester (soprano)
• “Now Truly Know Me” — Chillingworth’s lament (baritone)
• “Our Nights” — Dimmesdale's aria (tenor)
• “Ye People of New England” — Dimmesdale's confession (tenor)
• “Come To The Devil’s Fire” – the Witch’s aria (mezzo-soprano) — The orchestral version is also available. Contact me directly.
• “Our Eden Here is Love” — Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale's love duet (soprano and tenor duet)

Act I, Scene 2 from the opera (aka "The Prison Scene") is also available excerpted as a duet for baritone and soprano.

You can purchase the Piano Vocal score from MusicaNeo or Glendower Jones — please see my home page for the link.

Errata for the Piano Vocal Score prior to March 2022:

Please note that some sections in the PV score which are notated in 2/4 whereas the corresponding spots in the orchestral score are notated in 6/8. The aural result is the same, but I am in the process of updating the piano vocal score to match. You can email me for an updated copy.

Act I Scene 1:

m. 1 and opening: piano should be marked f with a più f at m. 10

opening dynamics for Sailor and Farmer should be f, not mf

m. 74 Bellingham's dynamics should be f, not mf

m. 271 and m. 277 — dynamics should be f

Act I Scene 2:

m. 285 — RH piano should have Dbs and Gbs and LH should have an Eb in the chord

Act I Scene 3:

m. 314-321: Wilson and Bellingham's dynamics should be raised to f

ALSO PLEASE NOTE: The language used to describe Native Americans is taken from the Hawthorne and is not meant to be viewed through today's lens. It is used to portray the way the Puritans thought of the native population and does not reflect the views that David Mason or I have.

Nevertheless, here are some substitute lyrics:

Act I Scene 1 m. 268-9: Alternate words for Chillingworth:

Long was my journey

by land and by sea,

my bondage far off

among the natives.

Today this fellow here

has kindly  brought me

out of captivity.

Act I Scene 2: m. 43

Instead of "Above a year I've sojourned with the savages" — the word savages can be changed to "natives here"

The notes would remain the same but the rhythms would change to 2 8th notes followed by a quarter note on beat 2 for the word "here" (which would remain tied over...)

ALSO AVAILABLE:

An Abridged version for 5 voices and piano. Please contact me directly if interested.