All That Glitters (an opera buffa in one scene) (2015)

Written By Olga Amelkina-Vera

Prizewinner of 2017-2018 American Prize for opera/film/theater (student division)

All That Glitters is a complete micro-opera in one scene. It is a modern take on the Cinderella story, with an underlying moral of self-acceptance and positive body image. Ru Paul’s motto may be appropriate to quote here as the gist of the story: “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” The larger-than-life character of the Afro-Carribbean/Latin show-stealing drag queen Phanessa inspired all the Afro-Cuban, Calypso, Blues, Bossa Nova, and crooner numbers in this opera. A more traditional “classical” approach is used in the recitative dialogues and Neveah’s central aria “I Crush, I Squeeze, I Shrink, Deflate, and Wither.” This work is dedicated to the LGBTQ community and all those who feel that they don’t fit.

Duration: c. 14’

Characters:

  • Neveah--mezzo-soprano 

  • Phanessa, a Fairy Dragmother--baritone

  • Store Clerk--soprano

  • A shopper—silent

Instrumentation:

  • Piano; electronic keyboard set to a “vibes” patch or some other “smooth jazz” sound (one player)

  • Percussion (one player): drum set, marimba, vibraphone, bell tree, mark tree

Please contact me to purchase the score.

Olga Amelkina-Vera