Intimations: One Act Opera on a text by David Madden

Abstract

Intimations is based on the poem by David Madden, “Fugue for Two Voices.” It is a dialogue between an old and a young woman concerning a possible murder. It can be staged, but the static character of the story favors a concert version presentation. Intimations was premiered at Brooklyn College on February 5, 1982, as the winner of the 1981 Brooklyn College Chamber Opera Composition Contest.

The first version of the work was written with the collaboration of the poet in 1975 and was presented twice at the Arts Festival of the Baton Rouge Arts and Humanities Council in July of the same year. In that version, the work appeared with the title “Fugue for Two Voices” and employed a shadow dancer. Intimations was reworked in 1980 and since then, this version has received two awards and several performances.