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"Anything Money Can Buy"
Composed by Laura Bowler
Libretto by Alasdair Middleton
Mezzo-soprano- Louise Booker
Tenor- David Douglas
"My Friend Annie"
Composed by Laura Bowler
Libretto by Lavinia(Moxy) Casimir
Mezzo-soprano- Laura Bowler
‘My Friend Annie’ is a 3 movement music theatre work depicting the stream of conscience, emotions and actions of an anorexic girl. The first movement shows the protagonist’s ever changing mood alongside the irrational fears and pleasures that anorexia can cause. We also see the character as anorexia itself, thus portraying the devastating control that the eating disorder has over its subject. It becomes the sufferer’s second self. The ensemble support the emotional changes, and assist in the creation of instrumental worlds depicting emptiness, aggression, stillness, paranoia and ecstatic happiness.
In the second movement, the young girl speaks as her family members; her father, mother and brother, displaying their emotions and opinions about her illness. She then becomes exasperated with their comments leading her into a defensive outcry against them. In the second half of this movement, the destructive object that is the mirror is introduced. The decline of the characters mental stability is portrayed through her irrational emotions when looking at the distorted view of what she sees as her body.
The bass clarinet acts as the father, the flute as the mother and the saxophone as the brother. The continuous marimba accompaniment is a depiction of the ever under-lying emotional tension that anorexia causes.
The final movement shows the destruction that anorexia has had on the protagonist’s character. We see her lack of feeling and care for existence, and the disintegration of her own self. The outburst within this movement shows the anger that is caused by the illness anorexia, as the protagonist becomes to feel like she no longer belongs in her own body. In the final moments of the piece, the ensemble cover the vocalist’s words, “My absence.” This is literally illustrating her absence and lack of being as the surrounding instrumental forces (mental tensions) finally override her ability to keep going.
Louise Booker - Chloe in ‘Anything Money Can Buy’
Louise has just completed her third undergraduate year at the RNCM, studying under the tuition of Peter Wilson. In her second year, she played Sepp in The Cunning Little Vixen, joined the RNCM chorus in Mozart Requiem at the Bridgewater hall under Sir Colin Davis and was also in the chorus for RNCM’s production of Eugene Onegin.
David - Dean in ‘Anything Money Can Buy’
David was born in Ayrshire, Scotland and having completed his studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama is now a student at the Royal Northern College of Music. He enjoys a busy and varied career as a recitalist, opera performer and soloist. Most recently David has performed as a soloist with Naional Youth Choir of Scotland and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Upcoming engagments include solo performances with Manchester Camerata and others.
Laura Bowler - Mezzo Soprano in ‘My Friend Annie’
Laura has just completed her undergraduate composition studies at the RNCM under Adam Gorb. She will be continuing her studies at Masters level at the Royal Academy of Music with support from the RVW Trust. Laura has also spent time studying at the Sibelius Academy in Finland. She also studies singing with Sandra Dugdale.
Ewa Strusinska - Conductor for ‘My Friend Annie’
Ewa Strusinska is a Junior Fellow in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. In 2007, winning 4th prize, she became one of three finalists in the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in Bamberg. This year Ewa has been appointed assistant conductor of the Hallé Orchestra.
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