Deborah Drattell

Deborah Drattell (born 1956) is an American composer and belt designer. 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.

Biography 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 Selected Works Operas Festival of Regrets (1999) Marina Tsvetaeva (2000) Lilith (2001) Nicholas and Alexandra (2003, Los Angeles Opera), with Plácido Domingo as Rasputin, Nancy Gustafson as Alexandra, and Rod Gilfry as Nicholas. Best Friends (2005) libretto by Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang

Orchestral Clarinet Concerto: Fire Dances (1986) The Fire Within (1989) Sorrow is not Melancholy (1993)