Patience & Sarah Captivation Bridge Fanny Otcott Truth
UPCOMING:
JUST IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH THE
INTERNATIONAL DEBUT OF THE FOLK
OPERA TRUTH
BASED
ON THE LIFE OF SOJOURNER TRUTH, AN ORIGINAL FOLK
OPERA
AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC THEATRE, FEBRUARY 16TH TO
18TH, 7:30 P.M.
Northampton, MA – TRUTH IS HERE!
Sojourner Truth, fiery abolitionist and ex-slave,
has inspired others for nearly 200 years. TRUTH is the
fourth opera composed by Paula M. Kimper,
whose previous works earned accolades from such
prestigious publications as The Wall Street Journal, New York
Times,
Opera News, USA Today and New York Magazine. It is somehow
fitting that this opera have its debut
in Massachusetts as, following the publication of
Truth’s book, The
Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave,
in 1850, Sojourner spoke at the first National Women's
Rights Convention in Worcester, MA.
Her query, “Aren’t I a Woman?” inspired 19th
century Americans as it still inspires 21st century
Americans.
Eyewitness contemporary reports of Truth's speech told of
faces "beaming with joyous gladness"
as Truth was warmly received by the convention-goers, the
majority of whom were long-standing abolitionists,
friendly to progressive ideas of civil rights. Evelyn Harris,
who portrays Sojourner Truth, had an18-year tenure
with the internationally acclaimed Black women's acapella
ensemble, Sweet Honey In The
Rock. An
artist, performer,
arranger, she recorded and co-produced ten albums on the
Warner Brothers, Redwood, and Flying Fish labels for Sweet
Honey.
For more information please
visit www.truthopera.com
or email Linda McInerney lmciner@gmail.com
To read the Libretto:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/57559400/TRUTH%20LIBRETTO.pdf
*
Patience & Sarah (1998)
A pioneering love story
Music by Paula M. Kimper
Libretto by Wende Persons
Based on the novel by Isabel Miller
Commissioned by American Opera Projects
www.patienceandsarah.com
"...that's just good opera."
--The New York Times
"It is a rich, moving production that
...leaves us with the greatest gift: hope."
--Chicago Free Press
"A warm welcome to Patience & Sarah.
...a rare and moving opera about women in love."
--New York Magazine
"...a charming folk opera that companies around
the country would be wise to add to their repertoire."
--New York Blade News
Performance History:
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, CA (2007)
Brighton and York, England (2001-3)
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago, IL (2000)
Stonington Opera House, ME (2000)
Denver Opera Co. (2000)
World Premiere, Lincoln Center Festival 98, NYC (1998)
Preview, Academy of Music, Northampton, MA (1998)
Development, American Opera Projects, NYC (1994-1998)
Available:
Libretto, Piano/Vocal Score, Selections
Chamber Orchestration (14)
CD: of World Premiere (for promotional use only)
DVD: of World Premiere dress rehearsal
with the entire opera and P&S on: "in the life"
http://www.viddler.com/v/71baa579
*
The Captivation of Eunice Williams (2004)
A new opera based on an extraordinary
true story from colonial America
Music by Paula M. Kimper
Libretto by Harley Erdman
Conceived and developed
with Linda McInerney
Commissioned by The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association
with support from the International Music and Art Foundation
www.eunicewilliams.com
"....this is about the most powerful force in the universe,
that force is love...we should not forget these things."
-- Kwatokent TV, Kahnawake
Performance History:
Albanian National Theater, Skopje, Macedonia (2008)
Ohrid Festival: Ohrid, Struga, Tetova, Macedonia (2008)
National Museum of the American Indian, D.C. (2006)
Kahnawake Mohawk Nation (2005)
The Farmers' Museum, Cooperstown, NY (2004)
World Premiere, Reid Theatre, Deerfield, MA (2004)
Choral Suite, Pioneer Vally Symphony & Chorus, Northampton, MA (2004)
Development, UMASS Amherst (2003-2004)
Available:
Libretto, Piano/Vocal Score, Choral Suite
Chamber Orchestrations (8 or 4)
CD of World Premiere
Excerpt CD of World Premiere
DVD of World Premiere
Promo DVD
http://www.viddler.com/v/c8d36f4d
*
The Bridge of San Luis Rey (in progress)
A folk opera by Paula M. Kimper
Based on the novel by Thornton Wilder
"...emotional and evocative...
...the overall effect was spellbinding."
--Danbury NewsTimes
Performance History:
Workshop, Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, MA (2007)
Orchestra Suite, Danbury Community Orchestra, CT (2007)
Excerpts from BRIDGE, US NAVY CNO Strategic Studies Group, NYC (2005)
Opera America: New Works Showcase, Excerpts from BRIDGE, Pittsburgh, PA (2004)
Excerpts from BRIDGE, 1794 Meetinghouse, MA (2003)
Development, American Opera Projects (2000-2005)
Available:
Libretto, Piano/Vocal Score
CD of Excerpts from the opera
Orchestra Suite, DVD of Workshop
http://www.viddler.com/v/796b3786
*
Fanny Otcott (2009)
Music
by Paula M. Kimper
Words
by Thornton Wilder
from:
"Three-Minute
plays for Three Persons"
Commissioned by Tappan Wilder
A twelve minute opera for three singers and piano.
premiere performance: TBA
http://www.viddler.com/v/621a4a27
*
Sojourner Truth (in progress)
Music by Paula M. Kimper
Libretto by Talaya Delaney
Conceived and developed
by Linda McInerney
Commissioned by Old Deerfield Productions
JUST IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH THE
INTERNATIONAL DEBUT OF THE FOLK
OPERA TRUTH
BASED
ON THE LIFE OF SOJOURNER TRUTH, AN ORIGINAL FOLK
OPERA
AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC THEATRE, FEBRUARY 16TH TO
18TH, 7:30 P.M.
Northampton, MA – TRUTH IS HERE!
Sojourner Truth, fiery abolitionist and ex-slave,
has inspired others for nearly 200 years. TRUTH is the
fourth opera composed by Paula M. Kimper,
whose previous works earned accolades from such
prestigious publications as The Wall Street Journal, New
York Times,
Opera News, USA Today and New York Magazine. It is somehow
fitting that this opera have its debut
in Massachusetts as, following the publication of
Truth’s book, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern
Slave,
in
1850,
Sojourner spoke at the first National
Women's Rights Convention in Worcester, MA.
Her query, “Aren’t I a Woman?” inspired 19th
century Americans as it still inspires 21st
century Americans.
Eyewitness contemporary reports of Truth's speech told of
faces "beaming with joyous gladness"
as Truth was warmly received by the convention-goers, the
majority of whom were long-standing abolitionists,
friendly to progressive ideas of civil rights. Evelyn
Harris, who portrays Sojourner Truth, had an18-year tenure
with the internationally acclaimed Black women's acapella
ensemble, Sweet Honey In The
Rock. An
artist, performer,
arranger, she recorded and co-produced ten albums on the
Warner Brothers, Redwood, and Flying Fish labels for Sweet
Honey.
For more information please
visit www.truthopera.com
or email Linda McInerney lmciner@gmail.com
www.olddeerfieldproductions.org