The Firebringers

Libretto by Ben Allen-Kingsland • Music by Chappell Kingsland

The Firebringers is a chamber opera for young audiences that explores the origins of fire through four myths from around the world. Each scene may be performed independently or as part of a complete 50-minute work, making it ideal for both outreach and small-scale mainstage programming. The music draws inspiration from each culture represented, unified by the composer's speech-like rhythms, textural variety, and strong dramatic pacing.

   History
— 2013: Commissioned by Reimagining Opera for Kids (Bloomington, Indiana)
— 2014-15: Over twenty performances by Reimagining Opera for Kids at schools, libraries, and community centers
— 2015: Five performances by Mile High Opera (Denver, Colorado)
— 2017: Four performances by Boulder Opera (Boulder, Colorado) including the premiere of Scene 3: Iwa the Caiman
— 2019: Performance by Lamont Opera Theater (University of Denver, Colorado) including the premiere of the Firebringers Dances

Personnel
Scenes 1, 2, and 4: Four operatic vocalists (Soprano, Mezzo, Tenor, Baritone) 
Scene 3: Adds a fifth vocalist (Alto)
Dances (optional): One dancer
Instrumental Quartet: Clarinet, Cello or Bassoon, Unpitched Percussion, Piano
Difficulty level: College students or professionals

   Flexibility
— The Firebringers is a modular opera: each scene is self-contained, allowing productions to present any combination of the four scenes and four dances.
— The vocalists portray different characters in each scene, while the dancer consistently represents Fire. All productions to date have made use of character masks, which are available to rent.
— Anywhere between 4 and 17 vocalists may be used, depending on whether each vocalist performs in multiple scenes or just one scene.
— Flexible staging options, duration, and personnel make the work especially suitable for educational outreach, touring productions, and small-scale venues.

   Synopsis
Scene 1: Rainbow Crow - story from the Lenape people of North America - Duration: 13 minutes
RAINBOW CROW (Soprano) • CREATOR (Mezzo) • COYOTE (Tenor) • OWL (Baritone)
   In ancient times, during the first snowfall, the animals are freezing, so the brave Rainbow Crow flies to the heavens to ask the Creator for help. The Creator sends her back to earth carrying a burning branch, which she shares with the other animals as they learn to control the gift of fire—though the journey turns the crow’s brilliant feathers black.

Scene 2: Prometheus - story from the Ancient Greeks - Duration: 11 minutes
PROMETHEUS (Baritone) • ZEUS (Tenor) • EAGLE (Mezzo) • HUMAN (Soprano)
   Prometheus is the god who created humankind. When he steals the sacred fire from Olympus to give to his creation, he is punished by Zeus and chained to a rock for eternity, where an eagle devours his liver each day. In this retelling, the eagle defies its role and forms an unexpected friendship with Prometheus.

Scene 3: Iwa the Caiman - story from the Yanomami-Sanema people of Venezuela & Brazil - Duration: 10 minutes 
YOUNG HUNTER (Soprano) • HIIMA THE DOG (Mezzo) • IWARAME THE CAIMAN (Alto) • MAIPOMUE THE HUMMINGBIRD (Tenor) • TAMANDUA THE ANTEATER (Baritone)
   Iwa is a caiman (an alligator-like creature) who guards a fire in her belly and uses it to cook her food. A clever human must work together with her animal friends to devise a trick to make Iwa laugh and release the fire for all to share.

Scene 4: Murilé and the Moon-Chief - story from the Chagga people of Kenya & Tanzania - Duration: 8 minutes 
MURILÉ (Tenor) • MOON-CHIEF (Mezzo) • MURILÉ'S MOTHER / MOONWOMAN (Soprano) • MURILÉ'S FATHER / MOONMAN (Baritone)
   Murilé is a boy who dreams of an exciting life beyond his village. One day, he flies to the moon and teaches the moon-people how to start a fire. They celebrate in wonder and invite him to stay.

Dances 1, 2, 3, and 4 may be inserted before the corresponding scenes.

Total duration: 42 minutes (all four scenes); 50 minutes (scenes + dances)

   Videos
Complete performance by Lamont Opera Theater (University of Denver, Colorado)

Scene 2 performed by Mile High Opera (Denver, Colorado)

Scene 4 performed by Reimagining Opera for Kids (Bloomington, Indiana)