Pacific Pleasures [OPERA] (2017, AMH) FULL SCORE

Composer: Alannah Marie Halay (2017)

Libretto: Jorge Balça (2017)

This opera was premiered in London (2018) and has since been toured across Portugal (2026).

Overall Instrumentation:

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet Bb

Bassoon

Horn in F

Trumpet in Bb

Trombone

Percussion (1 player)

Piano

Mezzo-Soprano (Dinah)

Bass-Baritone (Sam)

Soprano (Jazz trio)

Tenor (Jazz trio)

Baritone (Jazz trio)

Violin I (1 player)

Violin II (1 player)

Viola

Violoncello

Double Bass

Horn, trumpet Bb, and trombone: 1x straight mute or similar (each)

Trumpet Bb: 1x cup mute

Percussionist: 1x bass drum, 1x tam-tam, 1x snare drum, 1x hand-held brass bell (to imitate a school bell: see act II);

2x 26” timpani (one tuned to Bb2 and one tuned to C3); woodblock; tubular bells

The percussionist requires 2x bass drum mallet, 1x tam-tam mallet, 2x brush mallet, 2x timpani mallet,

2x hard-headed beater, 2x tubular bells mallet.

All members of the orchestra require pens, pencils, paper, exercise books (see instruction in scene II).

The conductor requires a ruler (see instruction in scene II); however, it is up to them whether or not they use it.

"Pacific Pleasures is a prequel to Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti (1952), which tells the story of a married couple living together in suburban America. They are both desperately unhappy in their relationship and frequently argue. In contrast to this, Pacific Pleasures (2016-17) by Jorge Balça (libretto) and Alannah Marie Halay (music) tells the story of how this soon-to-be married couple were born, met, fell in love, and got married." - Alannah Marie Halay