The Devil and Daniel Webster (opera)

The Devil and Daniel Webster
Folk opera by Douglas Moore
LibrettistStephen Vincent Benét
LanguageEnglish
Based onBenét's short story
Premiere
18 May 1939 (1939-05-18)
Martin Beck Theatre, New York City

The Devil and Daniel Webster is a folk opera in one act by American composer Douglas Moore.[1] The opera's English-language libretto was written by Stephen Vincent Benét who also penned the 1936 short story of the same name upon which the work is based.[2]

Composed from 1937 through 1939, it premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on 18 May 1939.[3][2] The first opera by Moore to achieve wide success, it has remained a part of the opera repertory.[2] Containing spoken words as well as sung material, Martin Bookspan stated that "the opera is really a 20th-century American singspiel, with extensive stretches of dialogue alternating with the musical numbers."[4] The opera is set in 1840s New Hampshire within the fictional town of Cross Corners.[5]

Described as an "American Faust" for its similarities to the German tale with an American milieu,[6] the opera tells the story of the farmer Jabez Stone who sells his soul to the devil. When the devil comes to collect his soul he is thwarted by the statesman Daniel Webster whose clever tongue outmaneuvers him.

  1. ^ Olin Downes (19 May 1939). "World Premiere for Benet Opera; American Lyric Theatre, for Its Bow, Gives The Devil and Daniel Webster New England Folk Tale Music Is by Douglas Moore – Text in English Idiom of Time and Place". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference MLA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Brooks Atkinson (21 May 1939). "Cheating the Devil to Music". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Martin Bookspan (16 December 1990). "Recordings View; Is There a Great American Opera?". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Ibee (24 May 1939). "Legitimate: Plays on Broadway – The Devil and Daniel Webster". Variety. 134 (11): 42.
  6. ^ M[erlin], M[ilton] (11 June 1939). "American Faust Set to Music". Los Angeles Times. p. C7. Cited in McBride 2011, p. 313.