The Murderess: A True Crime Chamber Opera

The Murderess is a one-act, hour-long chamber opera inspired by true crime. It is a woman-focused story featuring three female singers and one tenor, and it is scored for Pierrot ensemble: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion. The original libretto by Trip Venturella tells the story of a nurse, inspired by the nineteenth-century American serial killer Jane Toppan, who plans to poison her elderly patient with strychnine. In a twist ending, Jane’s elderly patient is given agency by revealing that she hired Jane to end her life. Thus, the opera dives into questions of morality and explores the implications of physician-assisted suicide. The Murderess is full of suspenseful music and many bittersweet moments. Recurring motifs are used to create musical foreshadowing, and the opera features several arias suitable for standalone performance.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• McIntosh, Allison June

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Stölzel, Ingrid

• Musical composition
• chamber opera
• Jane Toppan
• opera
• pierrot
• true crime

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:17689

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/39139