WHAT'S NEW 2025

NOW AVAILABLE:

MUSE of FIRE is now available from DelGatto Press. SAVE $5! “MUSE of FIRE—Maestro Charles Bruck at the Monteux School in Maine,” David Katz’s acclaimed one-man play about the man many considered America’s greatest (and most notorious) teacher of conducting, has been published by DelGatto Press. CLICK on "NEWS" to get the COUPON CODE for online purchase.


2025 ANNIVESARY:

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Charles Bruck at the Monteux School in Hancock, Maine and the 20th anniversary of the premiere of MUSE of FIRE. During the year, Maestro Katz is pleased to offer dramatic readings of the play in conjunction with its publication. Please contact him now to arrange a visit for your audience. Dates available through fall 2026.

 

PERFORMANCE HISTORY:

PRIVATE PERFORMANCE: MUSE of FIRE at the Conductors Retreat at Medomak, Washington, ME. Performance at the request of Maestro Kenneth Kiesler. (This is David's third appearance in MUSE of FIRE at the unique conducting school near Camden.)

COMMAND PERFORMANCE: MUSE of FIRE for the University of Michigan School of Music, Britton Recital Hall.

MUSE of FIRE returns to MICHIGAN, performance sponsored by HILLSDALE COLLEGE, Hillsdale, MI.

OHIO DEBUT of MUSE of FIRE, performance sponsored by Malone University, Canton, Ohio.

WISCONSIN DEBUT of MUSE of FIRE, performance sponsored by the Oconomowoc Chamber Orchestra, Oconomowoc, WI.

MUSE of FIRE returns to KENTUCKY: performance sponsored by the Centre College Music Department, Danville, KY.

MUSE of FIRE returns to MICHIGAN: performance sponsored by Adrian College in cooperation with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Adrian, MI.

NEW JERSEY DEBUT of MUSE of FIRE, performance sponsored by the Garden State Philharmonic

MORE RECENT PERFORMANCES


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"...great humor and great compassion..."—Acadia Repertory Theater

 

 

MUSE of FIRE: Scenes & Melodramas

When a great European Maestro will stop at nothing to mold an apprentice in the flames of his passion for music, the young man discovers that great conductors are not born: they must be forged—in fire.

The use of the word "melodrama" in MUSE of FIRE refers to its original, musical meaning: when spoken text is accompanied by—or contrasted with—music.

 

ACT I

 

     Overture

     Sorcerer & Apprentice

     The Thirty Bs

     Colloquy/Anxiety

     *Melodrama: The Wagner & the Shouting

     “I have a Thschool”

     Maine Idyll

     *Melodrama: 3 Conductors and No Answers

     Surgery

 

Intermission

ACT II


     Bastille Day

     *Melodrama: The Schumann & the Sorrow

     Imitations—but all of them

     *Melodrama: A Survivor from Hancock

     DeGaulle’s Tempo

     *Melodrama: Fireworks Music

     Coda