The Lost Sheep

An Opera in Three Acts

Duration: 150 minutes
Music by Darius Milhaud
Arranged for chamber orchestra by Russell Plows
Libretto after the play by Francis Jammes
Translated by Russell Plows

Scoring

1111/100/harp/1111

Roles

FRANCOISE … Soprano
PIERRE … Tenor
PAUL … Tenor
MME DENIS … Contralto
CLAUDINE & JACQUOT … Trebles

Time and Place

Provence in the early 20thC

Synopsis

Francoise live a pleasant but dull existence as a farmer’s wife in Provence. She yearns for passion and creativity and believes she will experience it with her husband’s close friend, Pierre. After secretly meeting, the pair run away to Burgos but Paul, a composer, can only find work as a clerk. Francoise becomes ill and Pierre promises God that if she survives, he will give her up. In hospital, Francoise receives a letter from Paul assuring her that his door will always be open for her return. After making a full recovery, Francoise meets Paul at the train station and the two leave together.