what have you to do with serious things? (2016)

for soprano, viola, and piano.  duration: 6'30"

At the end of Henrik Ibsen's classic play "A Doll's House," Nora has an epiphany that her husband Torvald has never treated her as an equal. As she confronts him about this, it occurs to her that this is the first "serious conversation" they've ever had in 8 years of marriage. "Why, my dearest Nora," he says, "what have you to do with serious things?"

This is her response.

Recording performed by Joan Hofmeyr, soprano; Jeremy Kienbaum, viola; Jeremy Kienbaum, piano