Lost in the Stars (1949)

Musical tragedy in two acts after Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Country.
Book and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson.

Synopsis
Song List
Performance Information
Principal Productions
Recordings

Design for backdrop

Sketch of backdrop for Broadway production, 1949.

Synopsis

Stephen Kumalo, a black umfundisi (minister), lives in rural South Africa; his children have moved to Johannesburg. His brother sends him a letter which suggests that his son Absalom is in trouble. Kumalo goes to Johannesburg and learns, after some investigating, Absalom is accused of murdering a white man; not just any white man, but one who advocated greater freedom for black South Africans. Absalom confesses and is sentenced to death, leaving his pregnant wife behind. Reverend Kumalo meets with the father of the murder victim and is able to effect a reconciliation at the end of the play.

Song list

The Hills of Ixopo
Thousands of Miles
Train to Johannesburg
The Search
The Little Gray House
Who'll Buy?
Trouble Man
Murder in Parkwold
Fear!
Lost in the Stars
The Wild Justice
O Tixo, Tixo, Help Me!
Stay Well
Cry, the Beloved Country
Big Mole
A Bird of Passage
Four O'Clock

Performance Information

Cast: singing roles -- Leader (tenor or high baritone), Stephen Kumalo (baritone), Linda (singer-dancer), Irina (mezzo-soprano), Alex (boy soprano), white and black SATB choruses.
speaking and other roles -- Grace Kumalo, Absalom Kumalo, John Kumalo, Matthew Kumalo, James Jarvis, Arthur Jarvis, Edward Jones, judge, guard, policeman, townspeople, villagers.
Orchestra: Reed 1 (cl, alto sax, fl), Reed 2 (cl, ten. sax, ob, Eng hn), Reed 3 (cl, bass cl, alto sax); tpt; piano (accordion), harp, timp & perc; 2 viola, 2 cello, bass.
Duration: full evening, 60 minutes music
Published Editions: piano-vocal score, Chappell and Co./Hal Leonard HL00312251
Performance Rights and Rentals: All territories, except GER (German language): RH
GER (German language): SCHOTT
Authorized translation: German--Lys Symonette

Guide to orchestration, territory abbreviations, and publishers' symbols.

Principal productions

October 1949, New York, Music Box Theater, Rouben Mamoulian, dir., Maurice Levine, cond.
May 1961, Nürnberg Opernhaus, Karlheinz Strebing, dir., Max Loy cond. (in German)
February 1972, Washington, D.C., Kennedy Center, Gene Frankel, dir., Lehman Engel, cond.
April 1986, New Haven, Long Wharf Theatre, Arvin Brown, dir., Tom Fay cond.
January 1992, Boston Lyric Opera, Bill T. Jones dir., Christopher Larkin cond.
August 1998, Roodeport (South Africa) City Opera, Mark Graham, dir., Weiss Doubell, cond.

Recordings

MCA CD MCAD 10302; Decca Broadway CD 0881 10302-2	Todd Duncan, Original Cast, Maurice Levine, cond.
Word LP CS-5117-LP	Eugene Holmes, Gladys Scott, Robert Honeysucker, Tougaloo College Music Department, Dora Wilson, piano (excerpts, with piano)
MusicMasters Classics CD 01612-67100-2	Arthur Woodley, Gregory Hopkins, Cynthia Clarey, Carol Woods, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Concert Chorale of New York, Julius Rudel, cond.