The Face on the Barroom Floor: Vocal Score

This opera transforms Hugh Antoine d'Arcy's 19th-century narrative poem into a fully realized dramatic work that speaks directly to singers and audiences alike. The vocal writing is gratifying without requiring superhuman technique, making it achievable for serious student singers and professional ensembles working with limited resources.

The music inhabits the gritty, poignant world of its source material, with melodies that catch and linger in memory. Mollicone's orchestration (as represented in this vocal score) balances lyricism with dramatic weight, never letting sentimentality overwhelm the story of loss and redemption at the work's heart.

This vocal score serves singers preparing roles in a professional or academic opera production, as well as choral directors exploring art song and operatic repertoire with advanced ensembles. It works equally well for recital singers looking to expand into dramatic literature.

• Balance the vocal line with piano accompaniment by working through the score in sections, establishing clear dynamic hierarchy before rehearsing with full theatrical elements.
• Pay close attention to text painting and dramatic intent in the musical phrases; Mollicone's setting rewards singers who commit fully to character and storytelling.
• Use the vocal score to establish the drama arc with your cast, then transfer that work seamlessly when full orchestral accompaniment becomes available.

Consider this for a full opera production in an academic or community theater setting, or excerpt arias and scenes for a recital showcasing American operatic repertoire. The work's manageable scale and dramatic power make it ideal for universities seeking repertoire that challenges singers without requiring massive resources.

• Legit singing technique with clear text projection
• Dramatic character interpretation through musical phrasing
• Navigation of American English diction in operatic context
• Understanding of how composers set narrative poetry to music
• Collaboration between singers and accompanists in theatrical context