Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera

Opera by David T. Little

Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera is a comic opera in one act by David T. Little to a libretto by Royce Vavrek.^[1]

Commissioned for the Bard College Conservatory of Music Orchestra, the world premiere of Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera was presented at the Richard B. Fisher Center on February 26, 2010^[2] performed by students in Bard's graduate vocal performance program with James Bagwell conducting. Dan Rigazzi provided stage direction.

A new chamber version of the opera was commissioned by Opera Saratoga in 2017, to be premiered at their summer 2018 festival.[1]

Roles and role creators

Sir Elton John's Trainer, Celine Mogielnicki (soprano)
Farinelli's Trainer, Madyson Page (soprano)
Holy St. Francis's Trainer, Clarissa Lyons (soprano)
Prince Gabriel III of Belgium's Trainer's Son, Jeongcheol Cha (baritone)
Hans Sachs's Trainer, Jeffrey Hill (tenor)
Atticus Finch's Trainer, Leroy Y. Davis (bass-baritone)

Synopsis

The opera is about finch-sitting (or Vinkensport in Flemish), a sport that developed around birdsong in the late 16th century in Flanders.^[3]

References

^ Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera, details at Boosey & Hawkes
^ Bard College press release, "Opera Triple Bill to be Presented by the Bard College Conservatory of Music's Vocal Arts Program", 27 January 2010
^ Hutton, Ann, "On safari for birdsong", Ulster Publishing, Inc., 25 February 2010