Nora at the Altar-Rail is a one-act opera by Jay Anthony Gach, to a libretto by Royce Vavrek; the music is performed on a piano. The libretto is based on the Book of Genesis and inspired by Thomas Hardy's poem "At the Altar-Rail" which is prominently featured in the piece.
Written while Vavrek and Gach were in residence at the American Lyric Theater, the opera was performed in concert in the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre in the Symphony Space in Manhattan, New York, on January 7, 2008. It was performed again at Opera America's National Opera Center in February 2014."Three Barihunks to perform in 'Vavrek and Vrebalov, Barihunks, February 21, 2014" American Lyric Theater to Present Work by Vavrek and Vrebalov, 2/23" by Tyler Peterson, January 27, 2014, BroadwayWorld In 2020, Michelle Di Russo conducted the opera at the J. Russell and Bonita Nelson Fine Arts Center of Arizona State University."Opera Under the Stars", November 2006, Michelle Di Russo
Roles and premiere cast Nora (soprano), Colleen McGrath Anders (tenor), Edwin Vega Lars (baritone), Christopher Burchett
Scenes Prologue, North Dakota — Nora Scene 1, The kitchen in the farmhouse — Lars, Nora Scene 2, The bookstore in town — Anders, Nora Scene 3, The living room in the farm house Lars, Nora Duration: 20 minutes.
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