Ballad of Baby Doe, The
Classification added September 28, 2015Premiered July 7, 1956
Central City, Colorado. Central City Opera House
Composer:
Douglas Moore
Original Language:
English
Librettist:
John Latouche
Description:
Opera in Two Acts
Notes:
Story based on true incident in Leadville, Colorado 1880s-1930s
Time Period:
1880-1899
Place:
Leadville & Denver, Colorado
Classification key
- L – Leading
- F – Featured
- S – Supporting
- B – Solo Bit
- CB – Chorus Bit
- MB – Mute Bit
| Role | Voice Part | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Horace Tabor, mayor of Leadville | Baritone | L |
| Augusta, his wife | Mezzo Soprano | L |
| Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe, a miner's wife | Lyric Soprano | L |
| Mama McCourt, Baby Doe's mother | Contralto | F |
| William Jennings Bryan, candidate for President | Bass-Baritone | F |
| *Chester A. Arthur, President of USA | Tenor | B |
| *Father Chapelle, priest at the wedding | Tenor | B |
| *Old Silver Miner | Tenor | B |
| *Clerk at the Clarendon Hotel | Tenor | B |
| *Mayor of Leadville | Tenor | CB |
| *Stage Doorman at Tabor Grand | Tenor | B |
| **Bouncer | Baritone | B |
| **Albert, a bellboy | Baritone | B |
| **A Footman | Baritone | CB |
| **A Denver Politician | Baritone | B |
| Sarah, Mary, Emily, Effie, (old friends of Augusta) | 2 Sopranos, 2 Mezzos | S |
| Sam, Bushy, Barney, Jacob (cronies of Tabor) | 2 Tenors, 2 Baritones | S |
| Four Washington Dandies | 2 Tenors, 2 Baritones | B |
| Kate, dance hall entertainer | Soprano | B |
| Elizabeth, age 12 | Soprano | B |
| Silver Dollar, age 7 | Treble | CB |
| **Meg, dance hall entertainer | Mezzo Soprano | B |
| **Silver Dollar (grown up) | Mezzo Soprano | B |
| **Samantha, a maid | Mezzo Soprano | B |
| ***Saloon Girls (Act I, sc. 1 & Act II, sc. 5) | Sopranos & Mezzos | CB |
| Baby Doe's Family (Mr. McCourt, his son, daughter & spouses) | Sopranos, Mezzos, & Tenors | CB |
| 2 Newsboys (off-stage) Act II, sc. 4 | Tenors | CB |
Minimum Chorus: 24
Divisi: SATB
Chorus Notes:
Includes all CB roles
*According to instructions given in the score, these parts may be covered with two singers. Classification recommended would then be S for each Artist.
**According to instructions given in the score, these parts may be covered with one singer. Recommended classification would then be S for the Artist.
***If a select group.