The Adventures of Pinocchio (opera)

The Adventures of Pinocchio is a 2007 opera in two acts by Jonathan Dove with a libretto by Alasdair Middleton based on the 1883 Italian novel of the same name by Carlo Collodi. It tells of the creation of the wooden puppet Pinocchio and some of his adventures on the way to becoming a real boy.

The opera was commissioned by

• Pinocchio (mezzo-soprano) -Victoria Simmonds
• Geppetto (baritone) - Jonathan Summers
• Cricket / Parrot (coloratura soprano) - Rebecca Bottone
• Cat (tenor) Mark Wilde
• Fox / Coachman (
  counter-tenor
  ) Jamie Laing
• The Blue Fairy (soprano) -Mary Plazas
• Fire-eater / Ape-Judge / Big Green Fisherman / Ringmaster / Farmer (
  bass
  ) -Graham Broadbent
• Pigeon / Snail (contralto) -Carole Wilson
• Barker- Paul Gibson
• Arlecchino, Rosaura, Pantalone - Ben Kerslake, Gillene Herbert, Nicholas Butterfield
• Owl Doctor, Crow Doctor, Beetle Doctor - Jeremy Peaker, Stephen Briggs, Hazel Croft
• Coal Merchant, Bricklayer- Edward Thornton, Jeremy Peaker
• Lampwick- Allan Clayton
• Drum-maker - John Cunningham
• Dancers, puppet operators, acrobats, prisoners (non-singing)
• Puppet show audience, puppet policemen, fantasy rich people, lawyers, labourers, pupils, teachers, Funland vendors, circus troupe, Echoes, villagers, townsfolk (chorus)

List of scenes

Act One

• Scene 1: The wood
  In which Geppetto finds a log.
• Scene 2: Geppetto's hut
  In which Pinocchio is made and Geppetto suffers some of the misfortunes of parenthood; Pinocchio learns about school and the consequences of falling asleep in front of an open fire; a cricket learns the result of giving unwanted advice to small boys; and Geppetto buys Pinocchio a schoolbook.
• Scene 3: A street
  In which Pinocchio sets off to school but is distracted.
• Scene 4: The puppet theatre
  In which Pinocchio meets some old friends; escapes death; is very brave; is rewarded and sent on his way.
• Scene 5: A street
  In which Pinocchio meets a Cat and a Fox and learns about the
  Field of Miracles
  .
• Scene 6: The wood
  In which Pinocchio ignores a warning from a ghostly Cricket; is pursued by Assassins; meets a dead girl with blue hair; is hanged and pecked down by some friendly birds.
• Scene 7: The Blue Fairy's cottage
  In which Pinocchio is cured and discovers the consequences of lying to girls with blue hair, promises to be good and sets off to meet Geppetto and live happily ever after.
• Scene 8: The wood
  In which Pinocchio meets the Cat and the Fox again; is tricked out of his money and is mocked by a parrot.
• Scene 9: The court and jail
  In which Pinocchio discovers the meaning of Justice and Freedom.
• Scene 10: The wood
  In which Pinocchio goes looking for the Blue Fairy but finds a grave and goes for a ride on a Pigeon.
• Scene 11: A beach
  In which Pinocchio attempts to help Geppetto.

Act Two

• Scene 1: Drudgeland
  In which Pinocchio learns about work, meets a lady with blue hair and does quite well at school.
• Scene 2: The seashore
  In which Pinocchio proves indigestible.
• Scene 3: Outside the Blue Fairy's house
  In which Pinocchio knocks at a door, gets frustrated with a Snail and is promised a party.
• Scene 4: A street
  In which Pinocchio, at the urging of his friend Lampwick, sets off for Funland.
• Scene 5: Funland
  In which Pinocchio visits Funland and is transformed by the experience.
• Scene 6: The circus
  In which Pinocchio joins the circus, recognizes a member of the audience and is sold to a Drum-maker.
• Scene 7: The seashore
  In which Pinocchio becomes his old self again and is swallowed by a big fish.
• Scene 8: Inside the big fish
  In which father and son are reunited and escape together.
• Scene 9: The village by the sea
  In which Pinocchio works hard for his father; meets his old acquaintances and finally gets his reward.

References

• The Adventures of Pinocchio feature on Opera North Retrieved 5 July 2008.
• Hugh Canning, Review: The Adventures of Pinocchio, The Sunday Times, January 6, 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
• Michael Church, Jonathan Dove: No nose for talent (Subtitle: Jonathan Dove's 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' is the most acclaimed new opera in years – so why is he being ignored by the Establishment?), The Independent, February 13, 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.