The Bird Lady (2017-2021)
A chamber opera in two acts
An eccentric young woman known as the Bird Lady lives a life of timeless simplicity in a well-
tended garden with only her equally eccentric gardener for human company — until a brash young man determined to build his dream home buys the adjoining lot. When the Bird Lady and her new neighbor clash over the felling of a tree planted squarely on the property line, sparks fly.
Libretto by Germaine Shames
Additional Text by Linda Marcus & Julie I. Meyers
Cast:
ANNABELLE - Soprano (range D4-Bb5)
MARCUS - Tenor (range C3-Bb4)
PERCY - Baritone (range G2-G4)
CHORUS - SAAB - three birds and a bee
Instrumentation:
1 - Flute (piccolo, alto flute)
1 - Oboe (English horn)
1 - Clarinet (bass clarinet)
1 - Bassoon
1 - Piano (celesta)
Strings: Violin I & II, Viola, Cello, Bass
Opera Projects
(Click on scores to view)
Vocal-Piano Score
Full Score/Act I
LISTEN to Audio Mock-ups (below), or WATCH the Video (above):
Libretto
Total running time: c. 2 hours 15 minutes
For performance and rental information, please send an email to tlmillmus@gmail.com with inquiries, or click on PURCHASE/RENT above.
Individual arias from the opera are available for performance. Please click the Art Songs tab above to be directed to the art song page.
A Preview Showcase Premiere was given (Act I only) on October 31, 2021, at Marc A. Scorca Hall, OPERA America's National Opera Center, New York, New York.
Full Score/Act II