Category: Opera / Vocal Music / Piano
Instrumentation: soprano, baritone, piano
Duration: approximately 5 minutes
Text / Source: Act II, Scene I of Lily, an opera

The Revenge Duet is an excerpt from Garth Baxter’s opera Lily, with libretto by Lisa VanAuken. The duet occurs after Lily Bart has fallen from society and, following a compromised situation, has lost her lover, Selden. Now working in a hat shop and trying to repay money owed to Gus Trenor, Lily is confronted by Gus, whose earlier actions contributed to her social ruin.

In the dramatic scene, Gus enters the hat shop unexpectedly, and Lily meets him with anger and distrust. Rather than seeking only reconciliation, Gus proposes a plan that may serve both of them. By the end of the duet, the two characters have agreed to pursue a course that promises revenge against the society that has judged and rejected them.

Musically, The Revenge Duet offers a compact dramatic exchange for soprano and baritone, balancing confrontation, persuasion, and uneasy alliance. Baxter’s expressive contemporary tonal language supports the shifting emotional terrain of the scene, allowing both singers to explore character, tension, and dramatic transformation within a concise operatic excerpt.

The Revenge Duet is suitable for opera scenes programs, vocal recitals, contemporary opera presentations, and semi-staged performances. Its clear dramatic situation and sharply drawn character interaction make it effective for singers seeking an excerpt with theatrical momentum and strong emotional contrast.

Performers: Katie Procell as Lily Bart; Jeffrey Gates as Gus Trenor