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Medium,TheinOxfordMusicOnline

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Medium,The
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Medium,The.

TragicoperaintwoactsbyGIANCARLOMENOTTItohisownlibrettoNewYork,BranderMatthewsTheater,Columbia
University,8May1946(revisedversion,NewYork,HeckscherTheatre,18February1947).
BothactstakeplaceinMadameFlorasparlour,wheresheholdssances.Ontheleftisastairwaycomingupfrom
streetlevelontherightareasmallpuppettheatrewithawhitecurtainandasmalltrunk.Afterashortinstrumental
introductionthecurtainrisesonToby(dancer),amuteteenager,makingupcostumesfromitemsinthetrunk,and
MadameFlorasdaughter,Monica(soprano),combingherhairandsingingasong(Where,oh,whereismynew
goldenspindleandthread?).TheyareinterruptedbyMadameFlora,calledBaba(contralto),whocomesinandscolds
Tobyforplayingwithherpossessions.Theyprepareforasanceandtheparticipantsarrive:MrandMrsGobineau
(baritoneandsoprano)andMrsNolan(mezzosoprano).Theysitroundatablewithonlythelightofacandleneara
smallstatueoftheVirginMary.Monica,inawhitedress,isthevoiceandapparitionofMrsNolansdeadchild.
SuddenlyBabaturnsonthelightandscreamsthatahandtouchedher.Inhysterics,shesendsthepeopleawayand
poursherselfadrink.SheblamesToby,whowasbehindthepuppettheatre,andattackshim,butMonicaintervenes
andtriestocomfortherwithasongwhoserefrainisOblackswan,where,oh,whereismylovergone?.Aghostly
offstagevoicesingswhatMonica,astheapparition,hadsungearlier.BabasendsTobytoseeifsomeoneisoutside,
butthereisnoone.Monicarecapitulateshersong,nowtothewordsOblackwaveandBabarecitestheAveMariaas
thecurtainfalls.
Act2openswiththesamedramaticandarrestingmusicthatopenedAct1.TobyisfinishingapuppetshowwithMonica
astheaudience.Shesingstohimandsooncomestorealizethathelovesher.Shechangesthewordsofhersongto
whatheprobablywantstosay,butcannot(Monica,Monica,cantyousee,thatmyheartisbleeding,bleedingfor
you?).Babaenters,bottleinhand,andaccusesTobyoftouchingherinthedarkshebecomesenragedwhenhewill
notconfessandwhipshim.HeissavedbythearrivalofMrandMrsGobineauandMrsNolanexpectingasance.They
areincredulouswhenBabatellsthemthatsheisafraud.AngrilyshesendsthemandTobyaway.Alone,inadrunken
stupor,shesingsafinalaria(Afraid,amIafraid?)andfallsasleep.Tobyreturnsandaccidentallymakesaloudnoise
whichwakesBaba.Hehidesbehindthepuppettheatre,butBabashoutsWhosthere?and,takingarevolverfroma
drawer,shootsseveraltimesatthecurtain.Tobyshandsareseengrabbingthecurtainfrombehindandbloodappears
onit.Thecurtainrodbreaksandhefallsforwardintotheroom.Ivekilledtheghost!BabascreamsasMonicarushesin
andcriesforhelp.
InthenotestoarecordingoftheoperaMenottiwrote:Despiteitseeriesettingandgruesomeconclusions,TheMedium
isactuallyaplayofideas.Itdescribesthetragedyofawomancaughtbetweentwoworlds,aworldofrealitywhichshe
cannotwhollycomprehend,andasupernaturalworldinwhichshecannotbelieve.Aftertheinitialperformances
Menottirevisedtheworkandcomposedacomiccurtainraiser,TheTelephone,tobepairedwithit.Thetwowere
performedtogetherbyLincolnKirsteinsBalletSocietyfrom18to20February1947.TheBroadwaydirectorsChandler
CowlesandEfremZimbalist,jrweresoimpressedthattheymovedtheproductiontotheEthelBarrymoreTheatre,
wherefrom1May1947itranfor211performances.TheMediumreceivedhundredsofperformancesinEuropeandin
1951wasmadeintoafilm,directedbyMenottiandstarringMariePowersasBaba,whohadplayedtheroleon
Broadway.Thesameyear,TheTelephoneandTheMediumtouredEurope,undertheauspicesoftheState
Department.ManyconsiderTheMedium,withitsgrippingmusicandmemorabletonalmodal,folklikemelodies,tobe
Menottisfinestwork.

BruceArchibald

CopyrightOxfordUniversityPress20072015.
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