“No company, large or small has a better track record of service to American opera”
-The New York Times
2009/10
CCO’s 27th Season!
Secret Agent by Michael Dellaira, Libretto by J.D. McClatchy (Atelier)
October 22, 23 @ 8pm
the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd St. NYC
Based on Joseph Conrad’s novel. London, 1900: A bomb has exploded at the Greenwich Observatory, an attack “having all the shocking senselessness of gratuitous blasphemy.” As Conrad writes. The unknown bomber is blown to bits. Chief Inspector Heat’s investigation leads to Adolf Verloc, a foreign provocateur and his cell of terrorists. But the bomber turns out to be a mere boy: Verloc’s wife’s beloved brother, out on a mission he could not have understood. A tale of political intrigue among anarchists and government officials, of murder and suicide. The Secret Agent is a story of social tragedy and intimate human drama, a story– sadly, for our times. A joint commission from The Center for Contemporary Opera, San Antonio Opera, and Long Leaf Opera (Raleigh). Premieres 2010-2011 season.
Prima le Parole – Libretti by Carol Gilligan and Terry Quinn
November 8 @ 7pm
New York Society Library, 53 East 79th Street, NYC
CCO’s new program Prima le Parole (First the Words) gives librettists and lyricists an opportunity to hear their work read by professional actors, and offers audiences a forum to assess the role words, text, plot, story, and character play in the evolution of new opera and music-theater. A distinguished panel of composers, musicians, authors, and directors discuss how words and music come together throughout the creative process. Brenda Wineapple, distinguished author of outstanding biographies of Hawthorne and Emily Dickinson will preside.
Accord/Discord- An Evening of New Music-Theater (Production)
December 2,3,4 @ 8pm
the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd St. NYC
Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006
CCO steps out of its box as it presents an engaging evening of new music theater. Distinguished accordionist William Schimmel opens with an amazing version of the “Poet & Peasant” Overture, a set of drinking songs and tangos from Latvia (introduced and performed by Laila Salins; some of the texts are by her father who is a leading contemporary Latvian poet); “Accord” a mini-theater solo for Schimmel in which he wanders through the audience, serenading, flirting, singing, laughing, breaking down and crying; music from the Brecht “Good Person of Szechuan”, also organized as a mini-theater piece; and, finally, a set of those biting, hard-hitting Osvaldo Pugliese tangos, instrumental and vocal, with translations and a running commentary.
NEITHER
Music by Morton Feldman, Libretto by Samuel Beckett
The Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria
Friday, December 18 & Saturday, December 19
CCO makes its international stage debut this year in Vienna, Austria with a production of Morton Feldman and Samuel Beckett’s Neither, which commemorates the 20 anniversary of Samuel Beckett’s death. A dramatic work that is defiant of all opera tradition, Neither has no plot or character confrontation; the intensity of this solo soprano opera results solely from an emotional and aesthetic tension.
This encore performance of Neither, which takes place at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, will feature soprano Kiera Duffy, pianist Michael Pilafian, movement artist Roman Maria Mueller and direction by Thomas Desi. According to music critic Frank Oteri of New Music Box , the production’s U.S. premiere with CCO in May 2009 “turned out to be an extremely compelling theatrical experience”.
Morton Feldman, one of America’s leading avant-garde composers, began to write his own compositions at age 12 and in 1949 developed an artistic association with John Cage. He has never used any formalized systems, working instead from moment to moment, from one sound to the next. Feldman developed a graph notation form of music which relied heavily on player improvisation. Though he returned to precise notation in 1969, he remains notorious for his extremely long, indeterminate works.
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish writer, dramatist, and poet considered one of the first postmodernists. Beckett’s work offers a bleak outlook on human culture and both formally and philosophically became increasingly minimalist. He is also considered one of the key writers in what Martin Esslin called Theatre of the Absurd. Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969 for his “writing, which—in new forms for the novel and drama—in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation.” His libretto for Neither is structured like a short poem – the hour long opera has a text of only 87 words divided into sixteen lines.
Anaïs- Music and Libretto by Susan Hurley (atelier)
February 11 @ 8pm
the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd St, NYC
Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/90658 or call 800-838-3006
Based on an original manuscript by Barbara Kraft.
Inspired by the life and writings of the noted diarist Anaïs Nin, this opera is a psychological drama of obsessive love during the last minutes of life. Anaïs attempts to come to terms with her impending death in the presence of her lover and long-time companion, Rupert Pole. In what amounts to a test of his devotion, she seeks his understanding but also clearly enjoys shocking him as she revisits and reveals some of the strongest memories of her life — innumerable infidelities, incestuous relations and her violent rejection of motherhood. Rupert is unable to forgive Anaïs for these dark secrets before she struggles out of bed and then collapses, alone, to the floor.
Review - Music by Jeremy Beck and Libretto by Patricia Marx (Gala Benefit)
February 19, 2010 @ 8pm
The National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC
Tickets: http://bit.ly/5kMn6x or call 800-838-3006
CCO initiates an exciting program designed to introduce contemporary opera to university students. James Madison University’s opera workshop will present the world premiere of Review, a short comic opera, at New York’s National Arts Club. Previewed at Opera America’s recent national convention to great acclaim, Review is a satire in the great New Yorker tradition and the first comic opera commissioned in many years. Not only will you be able to hear a great comic opera, but you can also help CCO continue its important mission.
Libretto Slam
March 11 @ 8pm
the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd St. NYC
Free Admission!
Reserve your seats now by sending an email to conopera@gmail.org
The librettists have their day! CCO, in conjunction with the Actors Studio and American Opera Projects presents a libretto slam!
The Wanton Sublime Libretto by Anna Rabinowitz
The Bloody Chamber Libretto by Elizabeth Isadora Gold
The Reef by Joan Ross Sorkin
The House of Special Purpose Liberty by Renzo Oliva
Just as our ateliers assist composers in the development of their operas, our Prima le Parole series assist librettists in the development of their work. Using professional actors and directors, libretti are presented much in the same way as a play would be performed.
This particular evening will be special as we are honored to present Tony Award winning director Carlin Glynn who will conduct the program in a manner similar to the Actors Studio famed Playwright Director’s Workshop.
As with the atelier series, a wine reception and engaging conversation follows.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Music and libretto by John Eaton (World Premiere)
June 15 @ 8pm
Sharp Theater, Symphony Space
2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC
MacArthur Grant awardee John Eaton brings this well-known story by F. Scott Fitzgerald to life. What makes Button such a curious case is that when he is born, he is already in his eighties, and proceeds to live his life aging in reverse. This sweeping opera follows the character’s unusual life into the 21st century as he experiences joy and sadness, loves lost and found, and the meaning of timelessness. Called by Andrew Porter “the most interesting opera composer writing in America today,” John Eaton is internationally recognized as a composer and performer of electronic and microtonal music. Presented in conjunction with the American Composer’s Alliance annual festival.
News
March 5, 2010: A few seats remain for our Libretto Slam on March 11. To reserve space, please send an email to conopera@gmail.org. Admission is free!
Feb 20, 2010: Here is a nice story about “Review” and our gala on the James Madison University website. Thank you to all who could join us.
Jan 15, 2010: Tickets now on sale for Anais by Susan Hurley on Feb 11 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/90658 and also for Review by Jeremy Beck and Patricia Marx on Feb 19: http://bit.ly/5kMn6x
Jan 1, 2010: Happy New year from CCO. Our production of Neither in Vienna was well-received and played to overflow crowds. Here are two reviews: http://bit.ly/52h89n http://bit.ly/52h89n
Dec 18, 2009: Join us tonight and tomorrow as CCO presents Neither by Morton Feldman and Samuel Beckett. 8pm at the Konzerthaus, Vienna.
Dec 7, 2009: Thank you for attending Accord/Discord. Up next; CCO performs outside the United States for the first time in our 27 year history. Please join us at Vienna’s famed Konzerthaus as we present Morton Feldman’s Neither, December 18 and 19.