Allison Cook as the Duchess of Argyll. The Opera Company of Philadelphia performed the opera in June 2013, with Patricia Schuman in the lead role. The German premiere took place at the Hebbel-Theater on 17 April 2001 as part of a coproduction led by the , together with the Music Theatre Group Amsterdam. The orchestra was the Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen under the musical direction of Brynmor Jones with Sally Silver, Eileen Hulse, Richard Edgar-Wilson, and Martin Nelson. The Danish premiere took place later that year (2001) at Den Anden Opera with the same cast and orchestra also conducted by Brynmor Jones. Roles and premiere cast Synopsis Act 1 Scene 1 – 1990 (The hotel). An electrician and a maid are discovered by the Duchess in her suite, ridiculing her. The scene closes with the entrance of a male figure. Scene 2 – 1934 (A country House). The Duchess's confidante and a lounge lizard discuss her recent divorce. The Duke makes an impressive entrance. Scene 3 – 1936. The Duke and Duchess's wedding is described in a fancy aria by a waitress. Scene 4 – 1953. The Duchess stays at the hotel and seduces a waiter. The waiter accepts a tip and reveals the recurrence of the Duchess's deeds. Scene 5 – 1953. The Duke visits his mistress. They flirt and she suggests that the Duchess's serial seductions are the talk of London. Act 2 Scene 6 – 1955. Two rubberneckers comment extravagantly on the divorce case. The judge denigrates the Duchess's morals. Scene 7 – 1970. The Duchess is interviewed by a society journalist. Her bill is delivered. Scene 8 – 1990. The hotel manager tells the Duchess to leave the hotel, since she is unable to pay her bills. She attempts to seduce him but with no success. She departs. Epilogue. The electrician and the maid surface from beneath the bed and destroy the hotel room. Instrumentation The opera is scored for an orchestra of 15 players, with much doubling, and a large range of percussion instruments. Clarinet 1 in B, doubling bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, and bass saxophone Clarinet 2 in A, doubling bass clarinet, alto saxophone, and bass saxophone Clarinet 3 in A, doubling bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, and swanee whistle Horn in F Trumpet in C Tenor trombone Percussion: two tubular bells, snare drum, flat bass drum, pedal bass drum, small bongo, timbales, rototom, clash cymbals,