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The Long Walk World Premiere in July 2015
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Iraq veteran Brian Castner (center) poses with librettist Stephanie Fleischmann and composer Jeremy Howard Beck, whose operatic adaptation of Castner's memoir will premiere in July 2015.
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In early October, ALT in partnership with Opera Saratoga announced the world premiere production of The Long Walk, composed by Jeremy Howard Beck with libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann, based on Brian Castner’s critically acclaimed book of the same name. The opera is a deeply personal exploration of a soldier’s return from Iraq where he served as an officer in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit and his battle with what he calls “the Crazy” as he tries to reintegrate into his family life. The opera highlights the perspective not only of Brian, but also the perspectives of Brian’s wife, Jessie, and their children.
Running July 10 – 25, 2015, the production will be directed by David Schweizer, conducted by Steven Osgood and will feature acclaimed artists baritone Daniel Belcher and mezzo soprano Heather Johnson, in the roles of Brian and Jessie Castner. Read more about the production, here. S ubscription tickets are available beginning November 15, 2014; and single tickets will be available February 1, 2015, here. Read more about ALT's recent orchestral workshop of the work, below.
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CLDP Resident Artists Featured on Studio 360
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A reporter for the Peabody Award-winning "Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen," from PRI and WNYC, recently interviewed Resident Artists, composer Justine F. Chen and librettist David Simpatico to chat about their opera The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing. The opera is an historical fantasia on the life of Alan Turing, who helped crack the Enigma code during World War II. The radio piece will explore the ways that Alan Turing has become a cultural icon through film, novels, plays and opera, most recently in the film The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the brilliant scientist. ALT's artists and the host discussed the ways in which the world has finally caught up with Turing, who was a forerunner for gay rights and saw how technology could be liberating. The exact air date will be announced soon!
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Justine F. Chen Awarded 2014 JFund Grant
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More exciting news for Resident Artist Justine F. Chen!
She has received a 2014 JFund Commission Grant from The American Composers Forum (ACF). The grant will support the completion of the piano/vocal score of her two act opera The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing with libretto by David Simpatico. ACF's Jerome Fund for New Music (JFund) supports the creation, presentation, and subsequent life of a new work. ALT will complete a workshop of the opera in March 2015, with a public event planned for Sunday, March 29th at Merkin Concert Hall. Stay tuned for ticket information.
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InsightALT: Why is Eartha Kitt Trying to Kill Me?: A Love Story at Galapagos Art Space
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Why is Eartha Kitt Trying to Kill Me?: A Love Story is a new one-act opera by composer Jeffrey Dennis Smith and librettist David Johnston, based on Johnston’s one-act comic monodrama about a mysterious – and unlikely – murder suspect. On Sunday, January 11th at 7:30 p.m., ALT will present a developmental concert reading of this comic monodrama, featuring Keith Jameson, and instrumental ensemble at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn. Join us for a tour de force love story and mad scene all in one, as a man shares his bizarre confession concerning the fate of a hot, young, art world star. Tickets are $15 in advance/$20 at the door with a 2 delicious drink minimum, available here.
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The Long Walk - First Orchestra Workshop
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(Top: Conductor Steven Osgood leads the ensemble;
Right: Composer Jeremy Howard Beck give notes.)
On November 1st, we had the opportunity to hear the first orchestrated scenes of The Long Walk. This was a closed workshop, but there are some behind the scenes pictures, available on our Facebook page. In addition, Katherine Moldave, one of ALT's board members, shares her experience on ALT's blog, Behind the Spotlight....
"Last weekend I was especially lucky… I sat in on the first orchestral workshop of The Long Walk, librettist Stephanie Fleischmann’s adaptation of Iraqi war veteran Brian Castner’s memoir of the same name. Watching and listening to the orchestra, composer Jeremy Howard Beck, and conductor Steven Osgood interact and collaborate left me thinking what I’ve thought many, many times since discovering ALT: 'How can people be so incredibly good at something this difficult?' and 'How can something be this compelling and beautiful?' Fortunately, these don’t turn out to be cosmic questions that float around the universe unanswered…" (Click here to continue reading.)
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FOGG Theatre, co-founded by librettist Tony Asaro '10-'11, who also serves as the Artistic Director, will debut The Cable Car Nymphomaniac in January 2015. Presented as the company's first production, FOGG Theatre's mission is to use San Francisco artists to tell San Francisco stories.
Composer Clarice Assad '13-'14 has been selected for the League of American Orchestras' Music Alive: New Partnerships program, administered in partnership with New Music USA. Through the program Clarice will participate in a weeklong residency with Boston Landmarks Orchestra, during which the orchestra will perform one of her works.
Bombay Rickey, an operatic gypsy rock band, led by composer Kamala Sankaram '13-'14, released a new album titled "Cinefonia" in October. Glowingly reviewed by New Noise Magazine, check out their sound, here.
A professional recording of Invisible Cities, composed by Christopher Cerrone '10-'11, is now available as a digital download and limited-edition CD box set, released by The Industry.
In an interview with NewRepublic.com, Ruth Bader Ginsburg discusses Scalia/Ginsburg, a new opera by Derrick Wang '10-11. An excerpt of the opera was performed in July at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York.
Commissioned to write a new guitar concerto, which will premiere at San Francisco Conservatory in 2015, composer Clarice Assad '13-'14, recently posted a video update about the project on New Music USA's website.
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