MEDIATHEK

Audience: The opera aims at an audience of young people approx. between the ages of 11-14 preferably with their parents. 

Musical and Dramatic intentions: The Journey of the Fumes is written specifically to be at eye- and ear-level with its audience. The story revolves around 14-year old Millie, and her development during the piece, from a vain teenage drama queen, to a young woman who is conscious of the world around her. The element of the environment and global pollution is especially important for the piece. It is the authors' hope that this very serious subject can be introduced to a young audience in a way that encourages reflection, and promote the fact that we all have our parts to play in this very important issue - however small that part may seem. Musically, the score includes many musical references to popular music, and the work should be able to be performed without a conductor. The keyboard player can act as "band-leader" and cue singers when necessary. There are also parts that have an improvisational aspect. Scene 4 (see excerpt pg. 22) the instruments and singers time their music to the dramatic staging. The keyboard's long sustained bass notes in this scene are soundscapes constructed by the composer.