BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Opera in Four Acts
Music by John Holland
Libretto by John Holland and Ron Wallace
(Based on Writings of Benjamin Franklin)
Characters
Benjamin Franklin Bass-baritone
Deborah Read Franklin, his wife Mezzo-soprano
William Franklin, his illegitimate son Tenor
Catherine Ray, friend and confidant; Marie Antoinette Soprano
Madame Brillon, 1stApprentice Soprano
Madame Helvetius, 2nd Apprentice Mezzo-soprano
Cotton Mather, King Louis XVI, George Washington Bass
President of the Royal Academy SpeakingVoice
The Attorney General of the English Court SpeakingVoice
Young Benjamin Franklin Chorus member
Chorus
12 Members of the Junto, Red Coats, Patriots, Male Chorus
Royal Academy of Science, House of Lords
Tavern Guests, Kite Experiment, Versailles Palace, Mixed Chorus
Celebration, Benediction
(Nearly all of the text of the libretto is taken from Benjamin Franklin's writings. In the few examples where the text is not authored by Franklin, it appears in brackets. Original spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been preserved throughout. An ellipsis(...) has been used where the text has been broken up. Cotton Mather, Louis XVI, and George Washington can be sung by the same person. M. Brillon and 1st Apprentice may be sung by the same person, and M. Helvetius and 2nd Apprentice; same for Catherine Ray and Marie Antoinette.)
Scene Synopsis
Meeting of the Junto Society
Scene 1. Franklin's Study
Scene 2. Printer's Shop
Scene 3. The Countryside (Kite Experiment)
Scene 1. English Tavern
Scene 2. Royal Academy of Science
Scene 3. House of Lords
Scene 1. Franklin's Study
Scene 2. The Countryside (A Skirmish)
Scene 1. Palace of the French Court
Scene 2. Madame Brillon's Sitting Room
Scene 3. Signing of the Peace Treaty Between America
and Great Britain
Celebration, Benediction and Epitaph, The Junto Society