Works

This Is No Mulligan. 
This Is Murder.

A One-Act Chamber Opera on the Back Nine

Composed 2026 by Elena Neitlich

Synopsis:
Killed by my errant slice?” asks a frustrated golfer standing over a dead body. “No,” his buddy states. “Observe the shape of the head wound. This is no mulligan. This is murder.”
A round of golf turns deadly when a foursome plays dirty. Brazen lovers get too daring under the noses of their unsuspecting spouses. The piano, cast as The Caddy, accompanies them through the final hole.

Program notes: 
Eighteen holes lure players deeper into the course. Rolling, lush fairways and well-manicured greens promise a better round, a straighter stroke, a two-putt, a lower score. Cleats, caps and gloves, clubs, flags and bunkers. This is golf! Today, one unlucky caddy draws the short straw and is paired with a foursome of very ill-behaved golfers. The piano is cast in the role of caddy, witnessing unsportsmanlike conduct, deceit, manipulation—and murder. It’s all fun and games until the back nine. 

 Character list:
L’Assassina – The Wife (soprano)
L’Amante – The Other Woman (mezzo)
Il Seduttore – The Husband (tenor)
Il Marito Tradito – The Golfer (baritone)
Il Commissario – The Detective (tenor)
Il Medico Legale – The Coroner (baritone)
The Caddy – Piano

Video Excerpts