Opera Scotland

Dr Quimpugh's Compendium of Peculiar Afflictions

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Music

Martin Ward

Text

Phil Porter

Source

Original

 

Premières

First Performance: Petersham, Surrey (Playhouse), 25 July 2012.

First Performance in Scotland: Edinburgh (Summerhall), 3 August 2012.

 

Background

Dr Quimpugh is an hour-long chamber piece for three singers accompanied by piano trio. The title role is a retired and enfeebled physician who remembers a succession of his more interesting patients from earlier days. These characters are portrayed in succession by the two nurses, sometimes as male or female, and both comic as well as serious. The music is successfully put together, modern but lyrical. At a first hearing, however, it is not especially memorable, but it is good to see a new and serious effort at opera appearing on the Edinburgh Fringe.

 

Characters

Dr Farquar Quimpugh (baritone)

Nurse 1, etc (soprano)

Nurse 2, etc (mezzo-soprano)