Until the War is Over 

Based on the autobiographical novel Bid Me to Live, by the American poet H.D. (Hilda Doolittle), Moxley’s libretto was set by composer Beth Wiemann. It is a chamber opera, written to be an intimate production, with just four singers and four instrumentalists. The characters include H.D. (a soprano, and the lead character), D.H. Lawrence (a tenor), Richard Aldington (a baritone, H.D.’s husband), and Bella (a mezzo-soprano, and Aldington’s lover). The instrumental group (flute, alto sax, double bass and piano — an adapted jazz combo) is chosen to hint at salon music of the early 20th century. 

Major themes: maternity and mourning, emotional and physical infidelity, artists during wartime, gender and sexuality in artistic vision, major poets and artists of WWI.

Two workshop performances of selected scenes took place in the 2015-16 season, the first as part of Hartford Opera Theatre’s New in November series, and the second at the University of Maine’s Black Box Theatre. Further workshops have been held at the John Duffy Institute for New Opera in 2017, and again at UMaine in June, 2019.

On Moxley’s collaboration with composer Beth Weimann: “The Making of an Opera.” 

We welcome inquiries from anyone interested in producing all or parts of this work.

Works in Progress: A libretto about the life of actress, singer, and politician Helen Gahagan Douglas.