The opera's title underwent several changes, including 'The Refugees' and 'Escape from Rouen', before settling on The Greater Good or The Passion of Boule de Suif.
Composition History
Stephen Hartke's opera, The Greater Good or The Passion of Boule de Suif, was commissioned by Glimmerglass Opera, marking their first commission since 1999.
Compositional Technique
Composer Stephen Hartke invented an instrument called the 'bowl tree' for the opera, made of plastic mixing bowls, to reproduce the sound of horses' hooves.
Recording & Production
This recording is the world premiere recording of Stephen Hartke's opera, The Greater Good or The Passion of Boule de Suif.
Compositional Technique
The opera features 'tuned' soup bowls, requiring specific pitches and timbres, which the composer Stephen Hartke personally checked at a Wal-Mart.
Recording & Production
The lead soprano, Caroline Worra, wore a specially designed 'fat suit' to embody the character of Boule de Suif, transforming her glamorous appearance.
Historical Context
The opera is based on Guy de Maupassant's short story, Boule de Suif, and is set in the immediate aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.
