March 2011
28
Presented by Robin Addison and GPR Records
Works by Ricky Ian Gordon, Jake Heggie, Lowell Liebermann, and Glen Roven
Daniel Okulitch, bass-baritone
"The New American Art Song"
Weill Recital Hall
8PM
Bass-Baritone Daniel Okulitch will be performing at Carnegie Hall in an evening entitled THE NEW AMERICAN ART SONG celebrating the works of four important American composers: Ricky Ian Gordon (Grapes of Wrath) Jake Heggie (Dead Men Walking, Moby Dick) Lowell Liebermann (The Picture of Dorian Gray) and Glen Roven (Goodnight Moon.) March 28, at 8PM The four composers, Gordon, Heggie, Liebermann and Roven, will be accompanying Mr. Okulitch on his Solo Cd of New American Art Songs. This recording will be the world premier recording of these songs and the Carnegie Concert will be the World Premier Concert performance of this music.
Read more here.
Works by Ricky Ian Gordon, Jake Heggie, Lowell Liebermann, and Glen Roven
Daniel Okulitch, bass-baritone
"The New American Art Song"
Weill Recital Hall
8PM
Bass-Baritone Daniel Okulitch will be performing at Carnegie Hall in an evening entitled THE NEW AMERICAN ART SONG celebrating the works of four important American composers: Ricky Ian Gordon (Grapes of Wrath) Jake Heggie (Dead Men Walking, Moby Dick) Lowell Liebermann (The Picture of Dorian Gray) and Glen Roven (Goodnight Moon.) March 28, at 8PM The four composers, Gordon, Heggie, Liebermann and Roven, will be accompanying Mr. Okulitch on his Solo Cd of New American Art Songs. This recording will be the world premier recording of these songs and the Carnegie Concert will be the World Premier Concert performance of this music.
Read more here.
April 2011
1-3
The Grapes of Wrath
Michigan State University
MSU Auditorium
The Grapes of Wrath is Ricky Ian Gordon's monumental setting of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1939 novel of the Dust Bowl. Particularly relevant today during Michigan's economic crisis, the opera tells the story of the Joad family, uprooted from their farm in Oklahoma and forced to journey to California in search of work. Part social commentary and part pure emotion, the opera combines a truly American musical palette with the soaring sound of operatic voices. Sung in English with English surtitles. A preview lecture will be held 45 minutes before each performance.
Tickets: http://whartoncenter.com/boxoffice/performance.aspx?pid=1036
Michigan State University
MSU Auditorium
The Grapes of Wrath is Ricky Ian Gordon's monumental setting of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1939 novel of the Dust Bowl. Particularly relevant today during Michigan's economic crisis, the opera tells the story of the Joad family, uprooted from their farm in Oklahoma and forced to journey to California in search of work. Part social commentary and part pure emotion, the opera combines a truly American musical palette with the soaring sound of operatic voices. Sung in English with English surtitles. A preview lecture will be held 45 minutes before each performance.
Tickets: http://whartoncenter.com/boxoffice/performance.aspx?pid=1036
1-10
UrbanArias
Artisphere’s Black Box Theater
1101 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
Orpheus and Euridice
The ancient myth seen through the prism of modern life. In Gordon’s version, Orpheus is a clarinetist, Euridice a soprano. They sing together, with and without words; Gordon shows us their domestic bliss before we see them torn asunder. Orpheus and Euridice has been produced many times to great acclaim – but never in the Washington, DC area. UrbanArias’ production features the 2006 OBIE award-winning cast!
Green Sneakers
Green Sneakers is an elegy for Gordon’s partner, Jeffrey Grossi, who died in 1996; it gives us a searing, but also humorous glimpse of his partner’s life before his death from complications of AIDS. Written for baritone and string quartet, this lush, introspective yet exuberant piece examines how we say goodbye.
Tickets: http://www.urbanarias.org/buy-tickets/
Artisphere’s Black Box Theater
1101 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
Orpheus and Euridice
The ancient myth seen through the prism of modern life. In Gordon’s version, Orpheus is a clarinetist, Euridice a soprano. They sing together, with and without words; Gordon shows us their domestic bliss before we see them torn asunder. Orpheus and Euridice has been produced many times to great acclaim – but never in the Washington, DC area. UrbanArias’ production features the 2006 OBIE award-winning cast!
Green Sneakers
Green Sneakers is an elegy for Gordon’s partner, Jeffrey Grossi, who died in 1996; it gives us a searing, but also humorous glimpse of his partner’s life before his death from complications of AIDS. Written for baritone and string quartet, this lush, introspective yet exuberant piece examines how we say goodbye.
Tickets: http://www.urbanarias.org/buy-tickets/
12,16,17
Harrison Opera House
Norfolk, VA
Ricky Ian Gordon and Mark Campbell will debut a new musical work, Rappahannock County during the Virginia Arts Festival, in the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, Virginia, April 12-17, 2011. This fictional song cycle is inspired by diaries, letters, and personal accounts from the 1860s. It has been co-commissioned in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, by Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond, Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas in Austin, Virginia Arts Festival, and Virginia Opera.
Norfolk, VA
Ricky Ian Gordon and Mark Campbell will debut a new musical work, Rappahannock County during the Virginia Arts Festival, in the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, Virginia, April 12-17, 2011. This fictional song cycle is inspired by diaries, letters, and personal accounts from the 1860s. It has been co-commissioned in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, by Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond, Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas in Austin, Virginia Arts Festival, and Virginia Opera.
May 2011
8
Mother's Day Serenade
2:30 p.m.
Opera Roanoake
Shaftman Performance Hall - Jefferson Center
Roanoake, VA
Elizabeth Futral, soprano
Scott Williamson, tenor
Todd Palmer, clarinet
Wallace Easter, horn
Melvin Chen, piano
Steven White, conductor
Hear the beauty of lyrical poetry and mythology in our season finale. This program celebrate music with Britten's Serenade and Ricky Ian Gordon's 21st-century take on the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Hear two unique duos:tenor & horn, and soprano & clarinet, both accompanied by the rich sounds of RSO strings.
Tickets: http://www.operaroanoke.org/e_1.htm
2:30 p.m.
Opera Roanoake
Shaftman Performance Hall - Jefferson Center
Roanoake, VA
Elizabeth Futral, soprano
Scott Williamson, tenor
Todd Palmer, clarinet
Wallace Easter, horn
Melvin Chen, piano
Steven White, conductor
Hear the beauty of lyrical poetry and mythology in our season finale. This program celebrate music with Britten's Serenade and Ricky Ian Gordon's 21st-century take on the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Hear two unique duos:tenor & horn, and soprano & clarinet, both accompanied by the rich sounds of RSO strings.
Tickets: http://www.operaroanoke.org/e_1.htm
June 2011
9-11
Pittsburgh Opera Theater
Allegheny Cemetery
4734 Butler St.
Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Orpheus & Euridice
A collaboration with Attack Theatre
Open-Air Production
A Breath of Life in the Allegheny Cemetery. This contemporary American love-story comes to life in a hollow around a lake where five hundred candles float, surrounded by lush rolling lawns and spectacular monumental statuary. Opera Theater’s singers and musicians collaborate with the extraordinary dancers of Attack Theatre for a modern rite of rebirth.
It’s a matter of breath and death: modern man-as-musician loses beloved wife to deadly virus. He tries to summon his wife back to life with the sounds of his glorious clarinet. Life is breath, breath is music, music is movement. A life-enhancing music-dance-drama.
Tour the cemetery before the performance, picnic in one of the most beautiful spots in the city, set a lighted candle afloat in memory of a loved one, and experience a magical act of regeneration.
Sponsored by the Allegheny Cemetery
Director: Jonathan Eaton
Euridice: Laura Very
Choreography and Dancers: Attack Theatre
Tickets: http://www.operatheaterpittsburgh.org/season/euridice.html
Allegheny Cemetery
4734 Butler St.
Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Orpheus & Euridice
A collaboration with Attack Theatre
Open-Air Production
A Breath of Life in the Allegheny Cemetery. This contemporary American love-story comes to life in a hollow around a lake where five hundred candles float, surrounded by lush rolling lawns and spectacular monumental statuary. Opera Theater’s singers and musicians collaborate with the extraordinary dancers of Attack Theatre for a modern rite of rebirth.
It’s a matter of breath and death: modern man-as-musician loses beloved wife to deadly virus. He tries to summon his wife back to life with the sounds of his glorious clarinet. Life is breath, breath is music, music is movement. A life-enhancing music-dance-drama.
Tour the cemetery before the performance, picnic in one of the most beautiful spots in the city, set a lighted candle afloat in memory of a loved one, and experience a magical act of regeneration.
Sponsored by the Allegheny Cemetery
Director: Jonathan Eaton
Euridice: Laura Very
Choreography and Dancers: Attack Theatre
Tickets: http://www.operatheaterpittsburgh.org/season/euridice.html
August 2011
11 & 12
Orpheus and Euridice
Citric Acid
Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival
4-21 August 2011
Riverside Studios
Hammersmith
London W6 9RL
Music & Words: Ricky Ian Gordon
Director: Alex Sutton
Designer: Alex Eales
Piano: Jonathan Williams
Clarinet & Orpheus: Tim Jackson
Euridice: Joanna Strand
A song cycle in two acts for the Piano, Clarinet and a Soprano. This is the British premier of American composer Ricky Ian Gordon's heartbreaking account of the Orpheus myth. Orpheus & Euridice won an OBIE award when it was premiered by Elizabeth Futral and Todd Palmer. This new production brings together award winning director Alex Sutton and designer Alex Eales and a company of performers who will bring this future masterwork to the first stages of life.
Citric Acid
Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival
4-21 August 2011
Riverside Studios
Hammersmith
London W6 9RL
Music & Words: Ricky Ian Gordon
Director: Alex Sutton
Designer: Alex Eales
Piano: Jonathan Williams
Clarinet & Orpheus: Tim Jackson
Euridice: Joanna Strand
A song cycle in two acts for the Piano, Clarinet and a Soprano. This is the British premier of American composer Ricky Ian Gordon's heartbreaking account of the Orpheus myth. Orpheus & Euridice won an OBIE award when it was premiered by Elizabeth Futral and Todd Palmer. This new production brings together award winning director Alex Sutton and designer Alex Eales and a company of performers who will bring this future masterwork to the first stages of life.
September 2011
14-15
Rappahannock County
University of Richmond Modlin Center for the Arts
Richmond, VA
University of Richmond Modlin Center for the Arts
Richmond, VA
21-22
Rappahannock County
Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
October 2011
6
Five Borough Music Festival
Five Borough Songbook
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main St.
Dumbo, Brooklyn
Buy tickets
Five Borough Songbook
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main St.
Dumbo, Brooklyn
Buy tickets
16
Once I Was: Songs by Ricky Ian Gordon
Stacey Tappan, soprano
Ricky Ian Gordon, piano
Preston Bradley Hall
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St., Chicago, IL
3:00pm
Admission Free
Stacey Tappan, soprano
Ricky Ian Gordon, piano
Preston Bradley Hall
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St., Chicago, IL
3:00pm
Admission Free
November 2011
5
The Grapes of Wrath
Narrated concert version
Alaskan / Pacific Northwest Premiere
Anchorage Opera
Ricky Ian Gordon, narrator
Atwood Concert Hall
8:00 pm
Narrated concert version
Alaskan / Pacific Northwest Premiere
Anchorage Opera
Ricky Ian Gordon, narrator
Atwood Concert Hall
8:00 pm
December 2011
15
I Dream a World
Harolyn Blackwell, soprano
Brooklyn Youth Chorus
The Winter Garden at the World Financial Center
Free Admission
Harolyn Blackwell, soprano
Brooklyn Youth Chorus
The Winter Garden at the World Financial Center
Free Admission