4×10: Four Ten Minute Operas is a new record from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and composer/conductor Jonathan Sheffer.  It’s a bit like a Tapestry “shorts” show but with orchestral accompaniment.  There are, indeed, four operas which last roughly ten minutes each.  All are to English language texts.

The same group of singers is drawn on for each opera and, while each has music well adapted to the mood, there is a basic similarity.  The music is tonal and the vocal line is highlighted.  It’s easy to listen to and the texts are all perfectly comprehensible without reference to the libretti though those are available on-line.

Camera Obscura (text by Robert Patrick) deals with the perils of on-line dating on an interplanetary scale.  Two people meet via a comms links for the first time but there’s a five second latency on the audio and video.  The usual awkwardness and potential for misunderstanding of such a meeting is magnified many times over and things do not go well…

HBP (Hit by a Pitch) (text b Robert McDonough) deals with the only occasion a MLB player has been killed by a pitch.  That was Roy Chapman of the Cleveland Indians in August 1920.  It’s quite a busy and very short little piece.  For the record the Indians went on to win the World series that year.

Owl Creek Bridge uses text by the composer adapted from the Ambrose Bierce short story.  I read that weird little number more years ago then I care to admit and it’s rather strangely stuck with me.  It concerns the execution by hanging of a Southern planter for alleged railway sabotage during the War Between the States.  It’s weird and eerie and this setting is very effective.  More plot would involve spoilers.  There’s a particularly fine performance here from the tenor singing the planter Farquar.

The Pat and Jerry Show is an adaptation (by the composer) of the text of a TV conversation between Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson on 13th September 2001 as published on the People For The American Way website.  It’s entirely predictable.  Like every religious nutter for the last three thousand years or so all disasters and misfortunes in the world are due to people they disapprove of not following the religious precepts they advocate… yawn. It’s quite amusing if a bit depressing.

The performances are very good.  There’s a good line up of singers; Milly Forrest (soprano),  Alexandria Moon (mezzo soprano), Glen Cunningham and Marcus Swietlicki (tenors), James Quilligan Lyric and Daniel Barrett (baritones) and Adam Maxey (bass baritone).  It’s fairly conversational sort of music which they all handle well and they all have excellent diction.  The orchestra is just fine.

Technically the recording, made at the RSNO Centre in Glasgow is extremely clear.  It’s going to be released on March 1st 2024 as a digital only release; MP3, CD quality and 96kHz/24 bit FLAC and the usual streaming services.  There’s no booklet but the album has a page with plenty of info including the texts on the record company website.

Catalogue information: Navona Records NV6610