The Falling and The Rising

Libretto by Jerre Dye

Dedicated to Sergeant First Class Ben Hilgert

Co-Commissioned by Seattle Opera, San Diego Opera, Arizona Opera, Opera Memphis, TCU, Seagle Music Colony and US Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus

Summary

The Falling and the Rising centers around a strong female hero known only as “Soldier”. After sending a video message home on the eve of her daughter’s thirteenth birthday, our soldier is severely wounded by a roadside IED. Doctors quickly place her in an induced coma to help minimize the extensive trauma to her brain. The soldier must now make an arduous journey towards both healing and home. The Falling and the Rising chronicles the imagined journey of a soldier suspended inside a coma. We follow as she makes her way through a miraculous coma-induced dreamscape- one punctuated with the lives of other fellow service members, each on their own individual journey toward healing and home. Together, they must move toward clarity, comfort, consciousness, and communal hope during a time of adversity. This operatic soldier’s odyssey was created in hopes of capturing the indomitable spirit of our U.S. military veterans and to shed light on the inspirational power of their often overlooked stories. The Falling and the Rising is a story of family, service, and sacrifice inside a period of great uncertainty.

Character List

Soldier (Soprano D4-C6)
Toledo/Doctor 1* (Mezzo A3-A5)
Jumper/Doctor 2* (Tenor E3-C5)
Homecoming Soldier/Doctor 3* (Baritone A2-G4)
Colonel/Doctor 4* (Bass Baritone G2-F4)
Optional Chorus to join in the Finale

*Optional to double up on Doctors to include Doctors 5-8

*Also Optional to have doctors all be separate cast members to accommodate a larger cast

Orchestra Requirements

Bb Clarinet, French Horn, Percussion 1 (Vibraphone, Snare Drum, Glockenspiel, Bass Drum, Triangle, Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal), Percussion 2 (Marimba, 4 Timpani, Tam-tam, Suspended Cymbal, Glockenspiel), Piano*, Guitar, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

*Works well with piano reduction and 5 actors if orchestra and larger is cost/company prohibitive