Auden, Wystan Hugh (Librettist), Britten, Benjamin : Paul Bunyan

Libretto for the operetta Paul Bunyan, the story of the American folk hero follows the development of the American continent from virgin forest to civilization. It does so in a deliberately eclectic style. Spoken dialogue is interspersed with set numbers and interludes with narrative and guitar accompaniment. Although often light-hearted, it is a deeply serious, poetic and tender work.