MATTHEW KING - COMPOSER

Chamber Opera (libretto by Andrew Mckinnon) for soprano, mezzo, tenor, girl soprano and boy treble with choir and ensemble, commissioned by Jane's Minstrels, London premiere at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with Jane Manning in the title role, 1994.

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The story is based on Hans Christian Anderson's Fairytale about a girl who goes on a journey, bravely encountering all kinds of dangers, in order to rescue her friend from the clutches of the Snow Queen. The piece is scored for eight players with conductor: string trio, flute, clarinet, piano and percussion. The pianist also plays a melodian and at one point the conductor plays French horn. In Act II the instrumentalists invade the stage and take over the singing roles.