Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant
Available for Production
INSTRUMENTATION
15 Players
Flute, doubling Piccolo; Bb clarinet, doubling Bass Clarinet; Oboe, doubling English Horn in F; Bassoon, doubling Contrabassoon; F Horn; C Trumpet, doubling Piccolo Trumpet in Bb; Trombone; 1 Percussionist (Snare drum, Suspended cymbal; Bass drum; Vibraphone; Glockenspiel, Vibraslap, Flexatone); Piano, doubling Electric Keyboard (organ and celesta patches); Harp; String quintet (2 vln, 1 vla, 1 vlc, 1 cb)
CHORUS
None
ROLES
7 Singers (all adults)
SHERLOCK HOLMES, consulting detective (Tenor)
DR. JOHN WATSON, Holmes' friend and sidekick (Lyric Baritone)
JACK BALE, a young boy (Treble)
INSPECTOR GEOFFREY LESTRADE, a Scotland Yard police detective (Character Baritone)
ANNE BALE, Jack’s grandmother (Mezzo-Soprano)
ZAMIRA, a mysterious woman who sells elixirs and spells in a traveling carnival (Coloratura Soprano)
BLUNDERBORE, the Giant (Bass-Baritone)
MERILEE, the Giantess (Dramatic Soprano)
DURATION
100’, Two Acts with One Intermission
HISTORY
Commission by ALT: April 2015
Libretto Workshop & Reading: September 2015
Public reading part of the The Living Libretto series
Piano/Vocal Workshop & Public Concert: March 2017
Public reading part of the InsightALT series
Revision Workshop: March 2019
Orchestral Workshop & Public Concert: February 2020
Public reading as part of the InsightALT series
“…positively adorable…Composer Evan Meier and librettist E.M. Lewis have created a mashup of Sherlock Holmes and the classic fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk, tied together with themes of the value of both magic and logic, compromise and family, and of course, by a love of opera itself… perfect for young audiences without talking down to them or to their older counterparts... The score is varied and interesting, the libretto funny and full of warmth.”
The game's afoot! A giant is dead, and his body lies at the base of a great beanstalk. The police believe young Jack is responsible. But the boy insists that he's innocent, and begs the help of the great detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague, Dr. Watson. Can they untangle this magical mystery?
In this operatic adventure for the entire family, as Holmes tries to discover if young Jack was framed for the murder, he turns to a magic harp for clues that come in the form of quotes from some opera greats, all cleverly woven into the plot. This buoyant, inventive score is sure to have you on the edge of your seat.
Artists’ Statements
E.M. Lewis
"The stories I loved best, when I was young, were full of magic. Wardrobes led to other lands, rings made you invisible, twisters picked up your house and dropped you in the middle of a grand adventure. Evan and I were excited by what might happen if we brought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic heroes into a place that had held onto its sense of fairy tale wonder and infinite possibility. We wanted to write the sort of opera that we'd like to see and hear -- a story with big characters (literally!), high stakes, bold choices, and music you'll remember. We’ve had such great fun working on it!"
EVAN MEIER
“Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant is a mash-up of a Sherlock Holmes mystery with ‘Jack and the Beanstalk.’ As a composer, this scenario presented rich musical and dramatic possibilities for me. I could create a musical world for Victorian-era Baker Street, the setting of these iconic characters. The music conveys a sense of mystery and adventure as Holmes and Watson explore a world of fairy tales and climb a beanstalk into the magical land of Nor-Wood. Throughout, Holmes grapples with the conflicting duality of logic and magic. The story highlights Holmes' well-known musical expertise and abilities. A magic harp plays ‘musical clues,’ borrowed from operatic examples, allowing the audience to participate in the solution of the mystery. It is my hope that the piece will be an entertaining (and educational!) experience for family audiences, introducing them to opera both new and old.”
Media
Orchestral Workshop Video
Press
Materials
Libretto
Piano Vocal Score
Full Score
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