Maps of Music

Romulus Hunt: A Family Opera (1993)

Where the lyrics of Romulus Hunt: A Family Opera take you, and where it was really made.

This album is a family opera about divorce, commissioned for younger audiences and sung by a cast of five, with the songwriter herself appearing only as a bonus track at the end.

Key places

Right Track Recording, New York City (1993)

Recording site MSR Studios — Right Track Recording is listed in the source as a New York City studio tied to this album's recording, alongside The Hit Factory. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Romulus Hunt: A Family Opera is an album written and composed by Carly Simon
• Released by Angel Records on November 16, 1993
• The singing is performed by a cast of five
• Simon appears at the end of the album, performing "Voulez-Vous Danser" as a bonus track
• The work is a family opera about divorce
• Its protagonist is 12-year-old Romulus, who tries to trick his divorced, ill-matched parents into coming back together

Background

• Simon was jointly commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera Association and the Kennedy Center
• The commission asked for a contemporary opera that would appeal to younger people
• The title is named after the 12-year-old protagonist, Romulus Hunt
• Romulus's sidekick is an imaginary Rastafarian named Zoogy, who knows enough Jamaican magic to help with the plot
• Eddie, Rom's father, is an artsy type who pierces his son's nose
• Joanna, the prim mother, worries more about propriety
• Mica, Eddie's girlfriend, is a ditsy performance artist who forms a triangle with the parents
• During the final minutes Eddie learns to love Rom by recalling his own father's indifference

Recording

• Recording studios listed for the album: Right Track Recording and The Hit Factory in New York City
• The album is a studio work presented as a cast recording with the songwriter's own bonus track
• All tracks are written by Carly Simon

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born June 25, 1943 in New York City; American singer-songwriter and author.
• In 1963 began performing as the Simon Sisters with sister Lucy Simon; released Meet the Simon Sisters, which produced the minor hit "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod".
• Signed to Elektra Records in 1970 and went solo.

Career

• Debut album (1971) won the Grammy for Best New Artist; "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" was her first top 10 single.
• No Secrets (1972) topped the Billboard 200 for five weeks; "You're So Vain" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Recorded "Nobody Does It Better" for the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
• Won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy for "Let the River Run" from Working Girl (1988).
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released by Angel Records on November 16, 1993
• Written and composed by Carly Simon, who is credited for all tracks
• Commissioned jointly by the Metropolitan Opera Association and the Kennedy Center
• The commission aimed at a contemporary opera that would appeal to younger people
• Sung by a cast of five singers
• Simon's own vocal appearance is the bonus track "Voulez-Vous Danser" at the end
• Story: 12-year-old Romulus tries to bring his divorced parents back together with help from an imaginary Rastafarian sidekick named Zoogy
• Eddie is an artsy father who pierces his son's nose
• Joanna is a prim mother who worries about propriety
• Mica is Eddie's girlfriend, a ditsy performance artist
• In the final minutes Eddie learns to love Rom by recalling his own father's indifference

Reappraisal

• In December 2014 the Nashville Opera Association premiered a new performance edition of the opera
• The revival is the only later stage production named in the source
• The revival came about 21 years after the album's release

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album closes with Simon herself performing "Voulez-Vous Danser" as a bonus track after the opera
• The imaginary Rastafarian sidekick Zoogy is described as knowing enough Jamaican magic to help the plot
• The opera's title comes from its 12-year-old protagonist, Romulus Hunt
• The 2014 revival was premiered by the Nashville Opera Association

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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