Underwater Acoustics (2018)

Commissioned by American Opera Projects for the Chautauqua Opera Company
Part of the Composer-in-Residence program at the 2018 Chautauqua Opera

Team

2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Harp, Timpani, Percussion, Strings. Mezzo-Soprano.

Preface

Underwater Acoustics (2018) is a concert aria for mezzo-soprano and orchestra on the poem by Rajiv Mohabir. The work was composed specifically for the semi-outdoor amphitheater at the Chautauqua Institute, and incorporates a quiet hum from the audience at the piece's conclusion, inviting audiences to consider all the sounds of their surrounding environment as an integral part of the listening experience.

Underwater Acoustics was commissioned by American Opera Projects for the Chautauqua Opera Company as part of the 2018 Chautauqua Opera Composer-in-Residence program.

Heard

Underwater Acoustics received its world premiere on July 14, 2018 at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater, with Steven Osgood conducting the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, featuring mezzo-soprano Alexandra Rodrick.

Photos by Dave Munch.

Such Sweet Sorrow (2018)

George_Lam · Such Sweet Sorrow (2018)

Poem by Allison Joseph
Commissioned by American Opera Projects for the Chautauqua Opera Company
Part of the Composer-in-Residence program at the 2018 Chautauqua Opera

Team

Bass and Piano.

Preface

Such Sweet Sorrow (2018) is a song for soprano and piano, on a poem by Allison Joseph. This work was commissioned by American Opera Projects for the Chautauqua Opera Company as part of the 2018 Chautauqua Opera Composer-in-Residence program.

Heard

Such Sweet Sorrow received its world premiere on August 2, 2018 at the Chautauqua Institution, with Brett Bode (bass) and Miriam Charney (piano).

Photo by Sara Noble

Sissieretta Jones, Carnegie Hall, 1902: O Patria Mia (2018)

Poem by Tyehimba Jess, from Olio
Commissioned by American Opera Projects for the Chautauqua Opera Company
Part of the Composer-in-Residence program at the 2018 Chautauqua Opera

George_Lam · Sissieretta Jones, 1902: Carnegie Hall, "O Patria Mia" (2018)

Team

Soprano and Piano.

Preface

Sissieretta Jones, Carnegie Hall, 1902: O Patria Mia (2018) is a song for soprano and piano, on a poem by Tyehimba Jess. This work was commissioned by American Opera Projects for the Chautauqua Opera Company as part of the 2018 Chautauqua Opera Composer-in-Residence program.

Heard

• June 28, 2018: Chautauqua Institution, with Kayla White (soprano) and Emily Jarrell-Urbanek (piano); world premiere.

• February 18, 2019: Minetta Lane Theater, as part of the Olio Live Audible.com event, with Kayla White (soprano) and Jeremy Gill (piano).

• March 14, 2019: National Opera Center (video above) as part of the OPERA America Emerging Artist Recitals series, with Kayla White (soprano) and Jeremy Gill (piano).

• July 4, 2021: Calliope’s Call’s I, Too, Sing America concert series, as one of the winners of its 2021 Call for Scores competition; with MaKayla M. McDonald (soprano) and Julia Scott Carey (piano).

Photo by Sara Noble