The Role of Alice in Unsuk Chin's Alice in Wonderland: An Exploration of Performance Requirements

Abstract

Unsuk Chin’s (b. 1961) Alice in Wonderland is one of the most successful vocal works on the international stage. It demonstrates the depth and variety of composer’s musical idiom and combines traditional and contemporary styles. This written project is a study of the opera’s title role, which presents the performer with multiple challenges. It requires a singer to sustain dramatic declamation in both low and high tessituras, both in terms of length and range, and it exceeds the demands of many other comparable roles. During the course of the opera, the artist performing the role of Alice needs to concentrate equally upon singing and acting. This project examines this balance. Chapter 1 introduces the music, the project’s background, their significance, and the research objectives of this study. Chapter 2 offers an overview of the opera’s various musical styles and structure, as well as a dramatic analysis. Chapter 3 addresses performance practice, including how to sing and express Alice’s different moods and her character’s efforts to navigate the real and imaginary worlds. Chapter 4 is a summary of analysis and suggestions for further research.