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Charlie Parker’s Yardbird
Opera in one act, sung in English
Music by Daniel Schnyder
Libretto by Bridgette A. Wimberly
Premiered June 5, 2015, Opera Philadelphia, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
THE CHARACTERS
Charlie Parker
, Bird, Yardbird
............................................................................
Tenor
Addie Parker
, Parker’s mother
.....................................................................
Soprano
Rebecca Parker
, Parker’s first wife, high school sweetheart..........
Mezzo-soprano
Doris Parker
, Parker’s third wife.....................................................................
Soprano
Chan Parker
,
Parker’s fourth wife
(although they were never married)
.........
Soprano
Dizzy Gillespie
, Parker’s friend and musical colleague..............................
Baritone
Baroness Pannonica “Nica” De Koenigswarter
, jazz patroness, Parker’s friend....
...............................................................................................................Mezzo-soprano
Inmates at Camarillo State Mental Hospital, Birdland patrons
SYNOPSIS
by Bridgette A. Wimberly
As his body lies misidentified in the morgue, Charlie’s ghost enters Birdland, a
500-seat club named after him that also featured caged finches as decor.
Celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Joe Louis could be seen
there regularly. Owning no part of Birdland, Charlie was kicked out in 1954
after an altercation with another musician. On March 4, 1955, he made his final
appearance there. Eight days later he was dead.
A Synopsis of the Opera
c. Dominic M. Mercier
- Opera Philadelphia
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