Deborah Drattell
Deborah Drattell (born 1956) is an American composer. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and started her career in music as a violinist. She has been lauded as "a remarkably original voice" by Opera News and is noted for her contributions to contemporary classical music. Her compositions have been performed by the New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Tanglewood and Caramoor Music Festivals, and many other groups and venues. She rewrote the role of the villain in Nicholas and Alexandra, Rasputin, from baritone to tenor when Plácido Domingo expressed interest in singing the role.
Early Life and Education
Drattell was born in Brooklyn, New York. She developed her musical foundation as a violinist before shifting her focus to composition. She earned a Ph.D. in composition from the University of Chicago, where she studied under Ralph Shapey.
Career
Opera
Her operas include:
“Festival of Regrets" (1999): A one-act opera with a libretto by Wendy Wasserstein, premiered at the Glimmerglass Opera and later performed as part of the Central Park trilogy at the New York City Opera.
"Lilith" (2001): A full-length opera exploring the biblical figure of Adam's first wife, premiered at the New York City Opera.
"Nicholas and Alexandra" (2003): Commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera, this opera featured Plácido Domingo as Rasputin and explored the final days of Russia's Romanov dynasty.
"Marina" (2003): A one-act chamber opera based on the life of Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva, premiered at the D.R.2 Theater in New York City.
Orchestral and Chamber Music
During her tenure as Composer-in-Residence at the Denver Symphony and the New York City Opera, Drattell composed several notable works, including:
"Sorrow is Not Melancholy" (1993): Recorded by the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz, conductor. Her works have been performed by prestigious ensembles, including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the New Orleans Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic.
Additional Roles and Initiatives
As Composer-in-Residence at the New York City Opera (1998–2001), Drattell launched the annual "Showcasing American Composers" series to highlight emerging talent, including works by Scott Wheeler.
Style and Influence
Drattell's compositions are often described as lyrical, dramatic, and emotionally evocative. Critics have noted her ability to fuse traditional operatic elements with modernist sensibilities.
Personal Life
Drattell lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, a physician, and their four children.
Selected Operas
“Festival of Regrets" (1999)
“Lilith" (2001)
"Nicholas and Alexandra" (2003)
"Best Friends" (2005, with Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang)
Selected Orchestral Works
"Fire Dances" (1986)
"The Fire Within" (1989)
"Sorrow is Not Melancholy" (1993)
Honors and Awards
Drattell's accolades include:
The Leonard Bernstein Fellowship in Composition at Tanglewood
Commissions from the Fromm Foundation and Meet the Composer
An NEA Grant and ASCAP awards
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