List of compositions
with selected performances

Barnes’ libretto is sharply drawn and dramatically punchy.  Each story seems both distinctive and every day, simultaneously personal and communal. His musical score, merging hip hop, jazz, Broadway and conventional opera, carries the piece along vividly.

Fresh and piquant writing with beautiful, lyrical passages.  Despite its percussiveness, Barnes’ orchestration is both light-fingered and light-hearted, with lots of whimsical comments on the action.  All in all, an engaging evening.

His music is tonal but not timid, melodious but not stale, modest but not simplistic, fanciful but not fancy, and altogether charming and serious.

A truly hip opera with a wonderful sense of variety.  The music included an impressive stylistic sweep from rap to Rachmaninov that kept the audience enchanted throughout.