LA Opera has commissioned some of today’s most in-demand composers to create a series of short vocal works.
These superstars are pairing up with talented visual artists including animators, experimental filmmakers and choreographers to bring you a number of new pieces throughout the fall and early winter.
Left to right: Du Yun, Gabriela Lena Frank, Missy Mazzoli, Tamar-kali, David Lang, Tyshawn Sorey, Matthew Aucoin
We're excited to kick off our Digital Shorts series with Gabriela Lena Frank's commissioned revision of Las cinco lunas de Lorca. This collaborative work with choreographer Irene Rodríguez and filmmaker Matthew Diamond will feature the distinctive sounds of members of our chorus (and a few surprises too). Mark your calendars for the second week of December—our first Digital Short will be streaming on a screen near you then.
Check out some more early details for all of our upcoming projects below, but be sure to check back here as we share more.
Composer: Gabriela Lena Frank
Project: commissioned revision of The Five Moons of Lorca (Las cinco lunas de Lorca), text by Nilo Cruz
Filmmaker: Matthew Diamond
Choreographer / Solo Dancer: Irene Rodríguez
Musicians: countertenor Jacob Ingbar, pianist Nicholas Roehler, and members of the LA Opera Chorus
Streaming dates: December 11 through 25, 2020. (No longer available)
read more here
Composer: Missy Mazzoli
Project: "The West is a Land of Infinite Beginnings" (librettist: Royce Vavrek)
Director: James Darrah
Musical performers: bass Andrew Harris, conductor Christopher Rountree, the International Contemporary Ensemble
Streaming dates: January 15 through 29, 2021
Composer: ELLEN REID
Project: Lumee's Dream, based on an excerpt from the opera "p r i s m" (librettist: Roxie Perkins)
Mezzo-soprano soloist: Rebecca Jo Loeb
Viola soloist: Nadia Sirota
Co-director and director of photography: James Darrah
Co-director and editor: Adam Larsen
Streaming dates: January 29 through February 12, 2021
Composer: Tyshawn Sorey
Project: a setting for alto and piano of "Death," based on the poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Film director: Nadia Hallgren
Performers: mezzo-soprano Amanda Lynn Bottoms, pianist Howard Watkins
Composer: Matthew Aucoin
Project: settings of three poems by Jake Skeets ("Afterparty," "How to Become the Moon," "Virginity")
Performers: baritone Davóne Tines, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo
Composer/librettist: David Lang
Project: Song of Songs, for soprano and string ensemble
Performer: soprano Angel Blue
Composer: TAMAR-KALI
Project: The Opera Murder Club: Jane Doe; new commission
Writer/director: Lila Palmer
Performers: Mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis, instrumentalists TBA
Composer/LIBRETTIST: Du Yun
Project: Three movements (No-Noha, Climax, Resign) from the one-act opera Zolle.
Animation Producer/Curator: Ron Diamond, Acme Filmworks
Composer: Anna Clyne
Project: between the rooms, setting of a collection of Emily Dickinson's envelope poems, for soprano and string quintet (two violins, viola, cello, bass)
Soloist: soprano Joelle Harvey
Choreographer: Kim Brandstrup
Composer: CARLOS SIMON
Librettist: Sandra Seaton
Project: The First Bluebird in the Morning
Choreographer: Jamar Roberts
Soloist: tenor Joshua Blue
