Edwin Penhorwood, composer

Edwin Penhorwood is a composer, pianist, and vocal coach. He studied chamber music at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia and operatic repertoire with Luigi Ricci in Rome. Dr. Penhorwood taught at the Church Music Conservatory in Berlin and has accompanied singers and instrumentalists in North America and in Europe for many years.

Dr. Penhorwood’s songs have been broadcast by the Paris and Berlin radio networks and were featured at The Glimmerglass Opera, The Chautauqua Opera, and the National NATS Convention. His New York City debut as a song composer was with the Marilyn Horne Foundation’s On Wings of Song and was one of the composers presented at Marilyn Horne’s 70th Birthday Celebration in New York City. His comic opera Too Many Sopranos, has received over 125 productions. His latest commission is An American Requiem.

Dr. Penhorwood is retired from Indiana University and is married to soprano Costanza Cuccaro.

Too Many Sopranos

Edwin Penhorwood’s comedic two-act opera Too Many Sopranos offers a delightful and satirical look into the often-tempestuous world of operatic casting. Premiering in 2000, this one-act gem quickly gained recognition for its witty libretto and engaging score with its clever take on the age-old problem of an abundance of sopranos, vying for a single role. Penhorwood masterfully blends humor with musicality, creating a work that is both genuinely funny and musically sophisticated. Too Many Sopranos has received over 125 productions so far.

Reviews

"If you wish to have a vocal feast that is at the same time a thigh-slapper aided and abetted by the most tastefully irreverent music and text, don't miss this work that stands up to the best of opera, Broadway and any other music-drama-cum-farce."

"...five songs by Penhorwood - brief, succinct works which were excellent in grace of vocal line, in setting of English and in the integration of vocal-pianistic textures. It is heartening to see a younger composer today turning out works of this character and quality."

“the opera 'Too Many Sopranos' was extremely enjoyable to hear and hilarious to see."

"I love 'Too Many Sopranos'...It certainly deserves a place in the repertoire. What a joy to hear a contemporary work written with such understanding for the voices."