Evento

CCO presents "Rope and Chasm" and "Archimedes"

Please join us for our last atelier of the season, a double bill of two electronic operas, ROPE AND CHASM by Matthew Greenbaum and ARCHIMEDES by James Dashow.

ROPE AND CHASM is an evening-length work for mezzo-soprano and video, based on Nietzsche's Also Sprach Zarathustra It consists of a series of episodes in which the performer sings and speaks with a recorded musical score and reacts to the video characters who themselves speak. ROPE & CHASMwill be performed by Israeli-American Re'ut Ben Ze'ev as Zarathustra, whose character will take on fresh lyrical meanings through the medium of the female voice. This gender reversal will also compel reflection about the mask-like relation of Nietzsche to his alter ego Zarathustra. The score is composed and constructed from a variety of materials: modified sampled instruments, pure electronic sound and reworked fragments of other music. The video is made from 3d and morphing animation and found footage. The work is in the original German, with subtitles, since the musical poetry of the original German loses its musical force in translation.

The second half of the program features excerpts from ARCHIMEDES, a "Planetarium Opera" in 3 acts, with an Introduction, Prologue and Epilogue,
libretto by Cary Plotkin, with Ted Weiss based on a conception by the composer, James Dashow. The plot is the biography of Archimedes. Mathematical content is present, including the famous Eureka bathtub scene.

Both of this evening's works are feasts for both the ear and eye. Kira Simring directs a terrific cast and Hubert Howe is our Music Director.

As always, you will have an opportunity to meet the composers, cast, and creative team at a wine reception immediately following the performance. Please join us for this important event.