Words First: Talking Text in Opera

Keturah starts her Second Season talking to a myriad of singers, conductors, and directors about how opera text affects them.

Sound bites from:

1. Joseph Mechavich https://www.ada-artists.com/conductor-joseph-mechavich
2. Stephen Costello https://stephencostellotenor.com/
3. Karen Kamensek https://www.karenkamensek.com/
4. Daniel Kramer http://www.danielkramerdirector.com/index
5. Alexandra Deshorties https://www.opera-arias.com/singers/alexandra-deshorties/
6. Emily Fons https://www.emilyfons.com/
7. Frederica Von Stade http://www.fredericavonstade.com/
8. Efrain Solis https://www.efrainsolis.com/
9. Thaddeus Strassberger https://www.tstrassberger.com/
10. Patrick Summers https://www.opus3artists.com/artists/patrick-summers/
11. Jonathan Lemalu https://jonathanlemalu.com/
12. Steven Osgood http://www.srosgood.com/
13. Alexandra LoBianco https://imgartists.com/roster/alexandra-lobianco/
14. Crystal Manich https://www.crystalmanich.com/
15. David Walker https://pbopera.org/about-us-2/general-director/
16. Alexandra Loutsion https://www.alexandraloutsion.com/
17. Ned Canty https://operawire.com/qa-opera-memphis-general-director-ned-canty-on-equity-in-the-arts-and-30-days-of-opera/
18. Eva Maria Westbroek https://www.evamariawestbroek.com/
19. William Burden https://www.opus3artists.com/artists/william-burden/

In the season 1 finale, Keturah speaks with Canadian playwright and librettist, Anna Chatterton about her operas Stitch, and Sweat (about the garment industry), Crush, and Swoon (Da Ponte/Mozart adaptations), and Rocking Horse Winner, as well as surviving as an artist during Covid19, and the joys of adapting work for the stage.

More information about Anna Chatterton and her work can be found here: https://www.ludwig-van.com/toronto/2020/09/08/feature-anna-chatterton-independent-theatre-artist-time-plague/, here: https://www.playwrightscanada.com/Authors/C/Chatterton-Anna, and here: https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Chatterton%2C%20Anna

Keturah speaks with English director, librettist, and composer, Anna Pool.  They discuss her love of musical theater, her work with devised work, puppetry, and multi-sensory work, and how the commissioning process could be more open.

Keturah talks about her work on San Diego Opera’s reimagined La Bohéme, and how the circumstances surrounding Covid 19 forced her and the singers to look at the piece in a completely different way.  She also interviews librettist, Jerre Dye, about his life in Chicago, his work with Frances Pollock at Chautauqua, and working with Zachary Redler, Kamala Sankaram, and Jennifer Higdon.

Keturah speaks with librettist and journalist David Cote, about his works, including Blind Injustice, Three Way, the Scarlet Ibis, and Invitation to a Die-In.  They also discuss the hardships of getting work produced, and how this differs in the opera world and theater world.

Keturah speaks with composer, librettist, and double bassist, Emily Koh about her upcoming opera, Her: Alive/Un/Dead, and writing words AS music.

Keturah speaks with librettist and teacher, Jessica Murphy Moo.  They discuss her two operas, Earth to Kenzie and An American Dream, the pitfalls and joys of writing a children’s opera, how composer Frances Pollock convinced her to rhyme, and the differences between teaching fiction writing and libretto writing.

In this second BONUS episode, Keturah speaks with librettist, Matt Boresi, about The Decameron Opera Coalition, which was put together by him and composer, Peter Hilliard.  Joining Boresi are three librettists from the coalition, John de los Santos, Gilda Lyons, and Deborah Brevoort.  They discuss their roles in the upcoming serial piece “Tales From A Safe Distance,” and how people can access the performances.  Also, CORRECTION: The performances all begin at 8pm, NOT 8:30, as listed in the podcast.

Keturah speaks with Lyricist and Librettist, Michael Korie, about his musicals and operas over the years, his thoughts on politics and art, and writing about real people.

Keturah chats with author, activist, and librettist, Lorene Cary.  They discuss her memoir, Ladysitting, her work at Art Sanctuary and Vote The Jawn, and her experience at ALT’s Composer Librettist Development Program.