Audio Samples:
Defending Her Choices

A Gilded Age Heiress Takes a Stand

Recorded excerpts with voice(s) and piano. Durations are listed.

Diego’s aria in the first scene:

What Just Happened?

Doctor Diego de la Rosa was educated in Edinburgh, and is a respected bachelor. After waltzing with Emma Wingate, a young heiress visiting her uncle, he steps aside from the dancing, unexpectedly finding himself enthralled. Then he remembers she will soon leave, and he berates himself for imagining a romance. He coaches himself to be content with moments of joy dancing with her that evening.
Open a page with the recorded excerpt and the text of the aria. Duration: 3'20"

The beginning of Act 1, Scene 2

The killer of Emma’s uncle invades her home at night

Now living on the ranch she inherited from her uncle, Emma awakens from a nightmare only to discover her nightmare has become real. Victor Ralston, the train robber who killed her uncle, is inside her house.
Open a page with the recorded excerpt and the text of the aria. Duration: 8'21"

The ending of Act 1, Scene 2

Emma vows vengeance

After Victor exits, Emma locks the door. Then, she gets her revolver. Her fear and revulsion change to anger and defiance. She vows to kill Victor if he returns.
Open a page with the recorded excerpt and the text of the aria. Duration: 3'11"

The next two excerpts were realized using the sampled instruments from Vienna Symphonic Library.) Durations are listed.

The Opening Music

The first few measures anticipate Victor's (a train robber) entrance music. The curtain goes up when the waltz music begins. Onstage, couples are dancing in a hotel ballroom.)
The Mayor's first words are: "Whoa! I'm tuckered out. Maybe waltzes are for you youngsters, Anna." She responds, "Nonsense, Dad. You did fine."

Duration: 2'42"

Emma’s Aria: We mask what we feel.

In the first scene Emma and Diego meet. During a waltz, Diego asks Emma to dance, and they dance well together. Their waltz music is interrupted by chords that introduces different waltz music, and in a moment of magic realism Emma emerges to sing about the ecstatic pleasure of dancing the waltz with a good partner.

Open a page with the recorded excerpt and the text of the aria. Duration: 3'45"