Die Brück am Tay
It is hard to believe that Theodor Fontane's epic ballad was written in the 1870s. It is so terse, understated and has such a cinematic sweep, with shifting points of view and finely drawn characters that it could easily have been written this year.
Though scored for a capella double chorus and six soloists, I think of this as my first operatic venture. The choir is distributed round the hall and there is a certain amount of acting involved.
The piece was commissioned by the Feldkirch Festival and performed there and in Bad Kissingen in June 2004.