Mystery on the Docks
Mystery on the Docks is a one-act opera by Edward Barnes, based on a book by Thacher Hurd. The opera was a joint commission from the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Los Angeles Opera, and Opera Columbus, sponsored by a consortium commissioning grant from the Wallace Foundation.[1] Mystery on the Docks premiered in Kansas City, Missouri, in August 1995[2] and went on to further productions by the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Columbus, Memphis Opera, Cincinnati Opera, University of Southern Illinois, and many others.[3]
Cast: Ralph, a short order cook (tenor); Big Al, a criminal rat (baritone); Edwina Bombastina, internationally opera star (soprano), Rat Gang (children); townspeople (children)
Duration: 30 minutes
Orchestration: Piano, or piano and percussion