The opera begins with Patsy Bear (spelled Bear in the libretto but spelled Blair in the character list), a middleweightboxer, punching leaves on a tree. Avril Ainger, a mathematics lecturer, encounters him while riding her bicycle and they have a conversation. The next day, Avril passes by the gym where Patsy fights. His manager has dropped him. He is waiting for the bus, but when the driver arrives, he will not tell Patsy the number, for Patsy is illiterate and has difficulty even recognizing numbers. She accompanies him back to his hut and they learn more about each other, Patsy's limitations, and the hurt of Avril's first marriage. They go to a restaurant, and Avril tries to help Patsy with the bill, but he is typically one to walk off without paying.
She begins teaching him basic mathematics, starting with familiarizing him with all the digits, but he only wants to make love.
The second act is set mostly in Avril's bedroom, jumping backward and forward in time, often with the characters changing clothes in front of the audience.
Avril asks Patsy about the nature of his erections because her previous husband could get them only if he hit her. After they make love for the first time, Patsy's manager calls and tells him that a new lad wants him to be his trainer.
Avril wants Patsy to promise he will not get back in the ring. She cuts up his gear. She takes off her top and hits him, saying she does not want to be hurt again. Patsy asks her to be more ladylike and make love.
Later, she gets a phone call, and collapses at what she hears. Patsy has fallen into a coma. The doctor says he will regain his memory if she keeps talking to him.
In the final scene, Avril pushes Patsy, now in a wheelchair, down the street where they first met, express their desire to make love, and go through their counting routine.
RecordingEdit
Love Counts an opera in two acts
Photograph by Michael Nyman design by Russell Mills and Michael Webster
A recording based on the Almeida production was released in 2007 featuring Andrew Slater as Patsy Bear (bass) and Helen Williams as Avril Ainger (soprano). It is the 57th Michael Nyman album.
^"Review: Love Counts" by Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 17 July 2006
^"Nyman: Love Counts, Williams/ Slater/ Michael Nyman Band/ McGrath", review by Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 5 May 2007
External linksEdit
Anthony Holden favorably reviews a live production for the Guardian.
October 17, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Love Counts news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Love Counts is a 2005 opera in two acts by Michael Nyman to a libretto by Michael Hastings Contents 1 Performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Recording 4 1 Personnel 5 References 6 External linksPerformance history EditThe opera premiered 12 March 2005 at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe Germany directed by Robert Tannenbaum It was performed in London at the Almeida Theatre on 14 July 2006 directed by Lindsay Posner designed by Peter McKintosh and conducted by Paul McGrath 1 Roles EditRole Voice type Premiere cast 12 March 2005 Conductor Avril sopranoPatsy bassSynopsis EditThe opera begins with Patsy Bear spelled Bear in the libretto but spelled Blair in the character list a middleweight boxer punching leaves on a tree Avril Ainger a mathematics lecturer encounters him while riding her bicycle and they have a conversation The next day Avril passes by the gym where Patsy fights His manager has dropped him He is waiting for the bus but when the driver arrives he will not tell Patsy the number for Patsy is illiterate and has difficulty even recognizing numbers She accompanies him back to his hut and they learn more about each other Patsy s limitations and the hurt of Avril s first marriage They go to a restaurant and Avril tries to help Patsy with the bill but he is typically one to walk off without paying She begins teaching him basic mathematics starting with familiarizing him with all the digits but he only wants to make love The second act is set mostly in Avril s bedroom jumping backward and forward in time often with the characters changing clothes in front of the audience Avril asks Patsy about the nature of his erections because her previous husband could get them only if he hit her After they make love for the first time Patsy s manager calls and tells him that a new lad wants him to be his trainer The lessons continue and Nyman uses a found number system based on Albert Riemenschneider s collection of 371 Bach Chorale Harmonisations although Patsy surely knows nothing of Johann Sebastian Bach s work He compares this to Dr P s use of Robert Schumann in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat Avril wants Patsy to promise he will not get back in the ring She cuts up his gear She takes off her top and hits him saying she does not want to be hurt again Patsy asks her to be more ladylike and make love Later she gets a phone call and collapses at what she hears Patsy has fallen into a coma The doctor says he will regain his memory if she keeps talking to him In the final scene Avril pushes Patsy now in a wheelchair down the street where they first met express their desire to make love and go through their counting routine Recording EditLove Countsan opera in two acts nbsp Photograph by Michael Nymandesign by Russell Mills and Michael WebsterStudio album by Michael NymanReleasedMarch 12 2007 UK May 27 2008 United States Recorded4 5 12 December 2006 Abbey Road Studios London 24 28 July 2006 Olympic Studios London GenreOperaLengthDisc 1 60 17 Disc 2 62 19LanguageEnglishLabelMN RecordsProducerSimon KilnMichael Nyman chronologyNyman Brass 2006 Love Countsan opera in two acts 2007 Mozart 252 2008 SoundtrackReview scoresSourceRatingThe Guardian nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 2 A recording based on the Almeida production was released in 2007 featuring Andrew Slater as Patsy Bear bass and Helen Williams as Avril Ainger soprano It is the 57th Michael Nyman album Personnel Edit The Michael Nyman Band conducted by Paul McGrath Ian Humphries violin Phillippa Ibbotson violin Nicolette Kuo violin Jonathan Evans Jones violin Emlyn Singleton violin Debbie Widdup violin Harriet Davies violin Fenella Barton violin Kate Musker viola Nick Barr viola Jonathan Barritt cello Tony Hinnigan cello William Schofield cello Chris Laurence bass Mary Scully bass Andrew Walley bass Martin Elliott bass guitar Dominic Saunders piano Walter Fabeck keyboards Dave Fuest clarinet bass clarinet Andrew Sparling bass clarinet Andrew Findon baritone saxophone Flute piccolo Dave Lee horn Steve Sidwell trumpet Nigel Gomm trumpetReferences Edit Review Love Counts by Andrew Clements The Guardian 17 July 2006 Nyman Love Counts Williams Slater Michael Nyman Band McGrath review by Andrew Clements The Guardian 5 May 2007External links EditAnthony Holden favorably reviews a live production for the Guardian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Love Counts amp oldid 1083527623, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
