The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (opera)
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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is a one-act chamber opera by Michael Nyman to an English-language libretto by Christopher Rawlence, adapted from the case study of the same name by Oliver Sacks by Nyman, Rawlence, and Michael Morris. It was first performed at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, on 27 October 1986.
The
Roles
Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast,[1] 27 October 1986 (Conductor: Michael Nyman) |
---|---|---|
Dr. S., the neurologist | tenor | Emile Belcourt
|
Dr. P., a singer and music professor | baritone | Frederick Westcott |
Mrs. P., his wife | soprano | Patricia Hooper |
Synopsis
The plot concerns the investigation by a
Film
Rawlence made a film version in 1987. It made brief omissions from the music (most notably the self-referential line, "That's Nyman! Can't mistake his body rhythm," when Dr. P. is watching
Returning from the original cast were Emile Belcourt as Dr. S. and Frederick Westcott as Dr. P. Patricia Hooper replaced Sarah Leonard as Mrs. P. The Michael Nyman Band appeared on-screen as Dr. P.'s students. Originally distributed on VHS by Films, Inc., its rarity has caused it to become a popular bootleg favorite[citation needed].
Recordings
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat | ||||
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CBS Masterworks | ||||
Producer | David Cunningham, Michael Nyman | |||
Michael Nyman chronology | ||||
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CBS Masterworks MK44669 (1987); Emile Belcourt (tenor), Sarah Leonard (soprano), Frederick Westcott (baritone),
External links
- Synopsis and track-listing of the recording, plus links to reviews
- Oliver Sacks, Michael Nyman, Michael Norris and Christopher Rawlance discuss The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat - a British Library sound recording