#5011, Modern Operas
Hear excerpts of contemporary opera from Chinese-American Huang Ruo, American composers Kate Soper, and Lisa Bielawa, and a futuristic internet opera by sound artists Mendi and Keith Obadike.
Hear a piece from the opera, An American Soldier by Chinese-American composer Huang Ruo, whose libretto was written by David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly and Yellow Face). The opera is based on the true story of Chinese-American Army Pvt. Danny Chen, who was found dead in a guard tower at his base in Afghanistan in 2011. He had been mercilessly hazed and abused by his fellow soldiers, and took his own life. Listen to the “Moon Duet”, in a recording by the American Composer’s Orchestra from the 2024 PAC NYC.
Also, listen to a chorus from composer Lisa Bielawa’s “made-for-TV opera”, Vireo: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch's Accuser – a feminist take on treatment of women throughout history - performed with the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Hear music from Philip Glass’ opera Ahknaten, and its beautiful “Hymn to the Sun”. as performed by Anthony Roth Costanzo.
Then, there’s a piece from Pulitzer Prize finalist composer, performer, and writer Kate Soper and her two-act opera The Romance of the Rose, written for Wet Ink Ensemble. The original libretto is inspired by the medieval French poem Le Roman de La Rose by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun, and features allegorical characters The Lover, Lady Reason, Pleasure, and The Dreamer. Also, hear a selection from the futuristic internet opera by sound artists Mendi & Keith Obadike, The Sour Thunder, containing two simultaneous stories; Mendi tracing the slave trade through the Dominican Republic, and that of a state called Solaika Dast, where scent is the method of communication. Plus, music by American composer John Adams, and his operas Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer. - Caryn Havlik
Program #5011, Modern Operas (First aired 5/23/2025)
ARTIST: The God of Love: Phillip Bullock, baritone; Lady Reason: Anna Schubert, soprano; Wet Ink Ensemble
WORK: xii. Reason vs. Love I [1:00]
RECORDING: Kate Soper: Romance of the Rose
SOURCE: New Focus Recordings
INFO: https://newfocusrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-romance-of-the-rose
ARTIST: Orchestra of St. Luke's; Edo de Waart, conductor; James Maddalena, baritone; Sanford Sylvan, baritone
WORK: Act 1, Scene 1: News has a kind of mystery [6:41]
RECORDING: John Adams: Nixon in China
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Anthony Roth Costanzo; Les violons du roy; Jonathan Cohen cond.
WORK: Philip Glass: Akhnaten: Hymn to the Sun [9:50]
RECORDING: Anthony Roth Costanzo: Glass/Handel
SOURCE: Decca Gold
INFO: metoperashop.org
ARTIST: San Francisco Girls Chorus
WORK: Bielawa: Opening: Forest (from Vireo The Spiritual Biography of a Witch's Accuser) [5:37]
RECORDING: Final Answer
SOURCE: Orange Mountain Music
INFO: sfgirlschorus.org
ARTIST: Brian Vu, tenor; Hannah Cho, soprano; American Composers Orchestra; conductor Carolyn Kuan
WORK: Huang Ruo: An American Soldier Act II Scene 1 Moon Duet [4:10]
RECORDING: Huang Ruo: An American Soldier
SOURCE: Platoon
INFO: Available at AppleMusic, Spotify
ARTIST: The God of Love: Phillip Bullock, baritone; Lady Reason: Anna Schubert, soprano; Wet Ink Ensemble
WORK: xii. Reason vs. Love I [4:46]
RECORDING: Kate Soper: Romance of the Rose
SOURCE: New Focus Recordings
INFO: https://newfocusrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-romance-of-the-rose
ARTIST: Mendi & Keith Obadike
WORK: Even the Magnolia/The Scent of Sugar Cane [6:08]
RECORDING: The Sour Thunder
SOURCE: Bridge Records 9158
INFO: bridgerecords.com
ARTIST: Orchestra of the Opera de Lyon / London Opera Chorus; Kent Nagano, conductor
WORK: The Death of Klinghoffer: Desert Chorus [4:59]
RECORDING: John Adams: Harmonium / The Klinghoffer Choruses
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: www.nonesuch.com
