Words First: Talking Text in Opera

Keturah begins this episode with an interview with conductor, and artistic and general director of Chautauqua Opera, Steven Osgood.  Steven has been the driving force behind the Composers and the Voice Workshop Series since its inception, when he was the artistic director of the American Opera Project.  He lays out the program for Keturah, and gives information on how to apply, and application deadlines.

Composers and the Voice at AOP: https://www.aopopera.org/composers-voice
Steven Osgood: http://www.srosgood.com/

Next, Keturah speaks with a librettist fellow from Composers and the Voice, Sokunthary Svay.  We speak about how she found opera, her poetry writing, her experiences with Composers and the Voice, and her two operas with Liliya Ugay: Woman of Letters, and Chhlong Tonle (Crossing the River).

Sokunthary Svay: https://www.sokunthary.com/
Liliya Ugay: http://www.liliyaugay.com/
Jin-Xiang (JX) Yu: https://www.jinxiangyusoprano.com/
Rob Paterson: https://robertpaterson.com/
My conversation with Royce Vavrek: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1180661/4952711
American Opera Intiative: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/competitions-and-commissions/american-opera-initiative/
Antigoni Gaitana: http://www.antigonigaitana.com/
Kimiko Hahn: https://kimikohahn.com/

In this episode, Keturah ponders the topic of familial protection in opera text, pointing out her recent viewing of Kamala Sankaram and Jerre Dye’s Taking up Serpents at Chicago Opera Theater, as well as other operas that highlight a family relationship.

In her first interview, she speaks with conductor and artistic director of Houston Grand Opera, Patrick Summers, about his love of Engelbert Humperdinck and Adelheid Wette’s Hansel & Gretel, concentrating largely on the Evening Prayer, and the protection that it offers, both in words and music.

In her second interview, she speaks with singer and librettist, Roberta Gumbel, about her recent collaboration with composer, Susan Kander, Driving While Black.  They discuss what it was like to write about worrying about her son as he reached driving age, and how it felt to dramatize and sing about those feelings.

Here are some people and topics that come up in this episode:

Taking Up Serpents at Chicago Opera Theater: https://chicagooperatheater.org/season/serpents
Patrick Summers: https://www.houstongrandopera.org/about-us/people/patrick-summers/
Roberta Gumbel: https://music.ku.edu/roberta-gumbel
Susan Kander: http://susankander.net/
Driving While Black: https://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2020/11/reimagined-for-streaming-dwb-driving-while-black-examines-black-motherhood/
Urban Arias’ Production: http://www.urbanarias.org/performances/driving-while-black/
Anna Deavere Smith: https://www.annadeaveresmith.org/category/about-anna-deavere-smith/
New Morse Code Ensemble: http://www.newmorsecode.com/

Keturah starts off this episode speaking to director, Thaddeus Strassberger, and tenor, Jonathan Burton, about Richard Strauss and Hugo Von Hofmannsthal’s Ariadne auf Naxos.

To continue to conversation about Hofmannsthal (and Strauss), Keturah turns to Bryan Gilliam, musicologist, Strauss scholar, and author of several books, including “Rounding Wagner’s Mountain: Richard Strauss and Modern German Opera.”  They discuss Hofmannsthal’s place in the canon, his collaborations with Strauss, and the themes that are present in his work.

For more information about Thaddeus Strassberger: https://www.tstrassberger.com/
For more information about Jonathan Burton: http://jburtontenor.com/

Rounding Wagner’s Mountain: https://www.amazon.com/Rounding-Wagners-Mountain-Richard-Cambridge/dp/0521456592
A little dive into Ariadne clips: https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2020/5/Departments/10_Essential_Ariadne_auf_Naxos_Clips_to_Enjoy_(At_Home).html

Keturah speaks with librettist and producer, Cerise Jacobs, and director and playwright, Lillian Groag.  As Keturah says, “On the surface, these women couldn’t be more different, both in the type of work they make, and in their approach to putting work on stage.  What made me think of them as a perfect pairing for this episode is in the way they convey their thoughts, the strength of their conviction, and the absolute tenacity with which they hold and express their opinions.”

First up is Lillian Groag, who, with Keturah, analyzes oft-missed and mistaken moments in various operas, including Le Nozze di Figaro, Tosca, Il Trovatore, Aida, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan Tutte.  Lillian is a champion of directing “On the word,” and her knowledge of these great libretti shine through in this conversation.

Find a bio of Lillian Groag here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Garrett-Groag
She talks more about Tosca here: https://youtu.be/wQkip1y43ok
She talks more about Aida here: https://youtu.be/b3iaAup_uMQ
And here’s an interview about her Don Giovanni: https://youtu.be/wz5RurCIxa8

Next is Cerise Jacobs, who speaks of her most recent upcoming work with her production company, White Snake Projects.  We discuss Alice in the Pandemic, I am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams, and Death by Life, among others.  Cerise also talks extensively about her philosophy as a librettist, and her work as a producer.

Find more information about Cerise Jacobs and White Snake Projects here: https://www.whitesnakeprojects.org/

Keturah begins this episode chatting with General Director of Palm Beach Opera and former countertenor, David Walker (https://pbopera.org/about-us-2/general-director/).  They discuss the aria Voi Che Udite (Here’s a link of David singing this aria on a set by John Conklin: https://youtu.be/cEQy5sfbs68  ) from Handel and Calzabigi’s Agrippina.  They also talk about the pangs of leaving performing, and briefly touch on Akhnaten, Partenope, and The Elephant Man.

Keturah’s second interview is with librettist and dramaturge, Kelley Rourke (https://www.kelleyrourke.com/about-1).  Kelley is the author of numerous song cycles, operas, and translations, and is also the resident dramaturge at Washington National Opera (https://www.kennedy-center.org/wno/home/) and The Glimmerglass Festival (https://glimmerglass.org/).  They discuss how John Conklin (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conklin) helped her find her way in the business, what it’s like working as a collaborator, and where the inspiration for her writing comes from.

Here’s a link to works by Kelley Rourke: https://www.kelleyrourke.com/projects-1

In this episode, Keturah speaks with singers, composers, and directors about the words and collaborative spirit of librettist, Gene Scheer.

In order of appearance:

Efrain Solis (https://www.efrainsolis.com/)
Frederica Von Stade (http://www.fredericavonstade.com/)
Emily Fons (https://www.emilyfons.com/)
Jonathan Lemalu (https://jonathanlemalu.com/)
Morgan Smith (https://www.baritonemorgansmith.com/)
Stephen Costello (https://stephencostellotenor.com/)
William Burden (https://www.opus3artists.com/artists/william-burden/)
Jake Heggie (https://jakeheggie.com/)
Leonard Foglia (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Foglia)

Pieces with a libretto by Gene Scheer mentioned in this episode:

American Anthem (https://youtu.be/RIGnlIymhUU)
Cold Mountain (https://operawire.com/opera-profile-jennifer-higdon-gene-scheers-cold-mountain/)
Everest (https://dallasopera.org/performance/everest/)
For A Look Or A Touch (https://jakeheggie.com/for-a-look-or-a-touch-2013/)
If I Were You (https://jakeheggie.com/if-i-were-you-2019/)
It’s A Wonderful Life (https://jakeheggie.com/its-a-wonderful-life-2016/)
Moby-Dick (https://jakeheggie.com/moby-dick-2010/)
Statuesque (https://genescheer.com/project/statuesque/)
Three Decembers (https://jakeheggie.com/three-decembers-2008/)
To Hell and Back (http://genescheer.com/project/to-hell-and-back/)

Keturah begins this episode chatting with baritone, Zachary Nelson (http://www.zacharynelsonbaritone.com/), who speaks with her about Mozart and DaPonte’s Le nozze di Figaro, the Beaumarchais plays, and their tie to the French Revolution.  You can read more about these connections here: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jan/06/classicalmusicandopera,
and here: https://sfopera.com/blog/the-marriage-of-figaro-fomenting-the-french-revolution/.

Next, Keturah speaks with Chicago based opera singer and hip-hop artist, Khary “K.F. Jacques” Laurent. (https://www.kfjacques.com/).  They discuss genre mixing with hip hop and opera, crafting words for hip hop, and his work for Chicago Fringe Opera (https://www.chicagofringeopera.com/) on both The Rosina Project (https://www.gjcederquist.com/projects/6849633), and Corsair, which was created for the Decameron Opera Coalition (https://www.chicagofringeopera.com/event/corsair/).

Other interesting things that come up in Keturah’s conversation with Khary:

Merit Music - https://meritmusic.org/
Chicago Academy of the Arts - https://www.chicagoacademyforthearts.org/
Roosevelt University - https://www.roosevelt.edu/
Pivot Arts - https://pivotarts.org/
James Marvel - https://jamesmarvel.com/
Kechi - https://www.buzz-music.com/post/r-b-soul-artist-kechi-is-captivating-his-audience-with-latest-single-just
Rapper’s Delight - https://youtu.be/mcCK99wHrk0
Hans Zimmer - https://hans-zimmer.com/
Sledgehammer - https://youtu.be/OJWJE0x7T4Q
A Promised Land, by Barack Obama - https://www.amazon.com/Promised-Land-Barack-Obama/dp/1524763160

Keturah speaks with Ricky Ian Gordon about how he collaborates with multiple composers, as well as compositions for which he has written the libretto.

The episode begins with clips from last season:  Michael Korie discussing how Ricky helped convince him to collaborate on The Grapes of Wrath (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1180661/5613223), and Leonard Foglia talking about Ricky’s phrase “Boil it down to stock,” and how it helped him as a writer. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1180661/5280550).  We also hear mezzo-soprano, Frederica Von Stade talking about how meaningful it was to work on A Coffin in Egypt.  (http://www.fredericavonstade.com/)

List of  Ricky’s works in order they are mentioned:

Orpheus & Euridice  (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/project/orpheus-euridice/)
Green Sneakers (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/project/green-sneakers/)
Sycamore Trees (https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2010-05-27-bs-ae-arts-sycamore-trees-20100527-story.html)
Ellen West (https://www.brightshiny.ninja/ellen-west)
My Life with Albertine (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/project/my-life-with-albertine/)
Intimate Apparel (https://www.lct.org/explore/blog/lemon-ia-ricky-ian-gordon-crafting-intimate-apparel/)
Garden of the Finzi-Continis (https://nycopera.com/shows/finzi/)
The House Without A Christmas Tree (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/christmas-tree-wsj2017/)
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/interview-ricky-ian-gordon/Content?oid=8573366)
The Grapes of Wrath (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/project/the-grapes-of-wrath/)
Rappahannock County (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/project/rappahannock-county/)
A Coffin in Egypt (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/project/a-coffin-in-egypt/)
27 (https://www.rickyiangordon.com/project/27/)

Other people/places mentioned:

UCross Artists’s Colony - https://www.ucrossfoundation.org/
Richard Nelson - https://www.broadwayplaypub.com/play-authors/richard-nelson/
Lynn Nottage - http://www.lynnnottage.com/
Frank Bidart - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/frank-bidart
Ariel by Sylvia Plath - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/395090.Ariel
Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival - https://www.bravovail.org/
Godard’s Vivre Sa Vie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056663/

This episode begins with a short interview with Dutch soprano, Eva Maria Westbroek (https://www.evamariawestbroek.com/). She and Keturah talk about Eva’s creation of the title role in Mark Anthony Turnage (https://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/composer/composer_main?composerid=16405&ttype=BIOGRAPHY) and Richard Thomas’ (https://www.richardthomascreative.com/) opera, Anna Nicole, which premiered at Covent Garden in 2011.

the second part of the episode is an interview with British librettist, composer, and lyricist, Richard Thomas.  Keturah and Richard also speak about Anna Nicole (https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/arts/music/19nicole.html) throughout the interview, but delve into his other works as well.  His most recent operatic endeavor is a new translation of The Merry Widow at ENO (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/03/the-merry-widow-review-english-national-opera-coliseum-london).

Keturah and Richard move on to his - arguably - most well-known work, Jerry Springer - The Opera (https://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_j/jerryspringer.htm), which was originally shown at the Battersea Opera Festival, run by Tom Morris in South London: http://www.bacarchive.org.uk/.  They then go into a deep conversation about Anna Nicole, and backtrack to discuss Richard’s first move into the opera genre: Tourette’s Diva.

Here are a few more links about various topics of conversation:

Tourette’s Diva: http://www.bacarchive.org.uk/items/show/5113
Tourette’s Syndrome: https://tourette.org/about-tourette/overview/what-is-tourette/
Kombat Opera Presents: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/kombatopera/

We start out this episode with a short quip from Mezzo-soprano, Emily Fons, talking about not waiting for the ideal moment to create.  (https://www.emilyfons.com/).

Next, is a brief interview with San Francisco based conductor and prompter, Robert Mollicone (https://www.robertmollicone.com/).  We discuss the ending of Offenbach and Barbier’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and how it relates to the paralysis so many artists have felt while trying to navigate the pandemic.  For more information about Offenbach’s opera, check out this Britannica entry: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Tales-of-Hoffmann/Setting-and-story-summary

The major interview of the episode is with librettist, Matt Boresi, who writes most often with composer, Peter Hilliard.  (https://www.hilliardandboresi.com/#home-section). We discuss the nature of comedy in opera, as well as making opera during the pandemic, at which he and Peter have been hard at work, both with Verdi by Vegetables (https://www.resonanceworks.org/verdi-by-vegetables) and The Decameron Opera Coalition (https://decameronoperacoalition.org/).

Here are some links to other productions, people, and organizations mentioned in this episode:

•Don Imbroglio with Beth Morrison Projects: https://www.bethmorrisonprojects.org/don-imbroglio
•The Filthy Habit at Urban Arias: https://www.urbanarias.org/the-filthy-habit/
•Victorian Toy Theater: https://craftsmanship.net/the-rise-and-fall-of-toy-theatre/
•Great Small Works: https://greatsmallworks.org/index.html
•The Last American Hammer: https://www.urbanarias.org/lastamericanhammer/
•The American Toby Jug Museum: https://www.tobyjugmuseum.com/
•Blue Viola : https://www.urbanarias.org/blue_viola/