In addition to the wealth of operatic diversions posted on this site, I add the works of American composer Luigi Zaninelli, composer-in-residence and venerable faculty of the University of Southern Mississippi. This is a busy month for Zaninelli -- a double bill of his one-act operas, Mr. Sebastian (1995) and Good Friday (1998), will be presented by USM's Opera Theatre on January 19. Then, on January 27 and 28, Syracuse University will present a preview of Zaninelli's full-length opera, Snow White (1991). In March, the workshop will be brought to SU's extension campus in Florence, Italy, to be expanded into a full production in conjunction with the Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.Zaninelli was a student of Menotti, and these operas were written long after the composer had worked his way through polytonality and dodecaphony and established his own hyper-chromatic, neo-Romantic (his description) language. Subsequently, audiences will hear mature, non-experimental, lyrical writing that is a refreshing change from the images typically conjured by the term "modern opera."
The opera’s world premiere will take place in March at the Teatro Comunale in Florence, Italy. Professor of Music and Music Coordinator, Lisa Friend, created the original intercultural and multidisciplinary project idea of using English operas to reach Italian school children. Young professionals of the world-famous Maggio Formazione, the young artist arm of the Teatro Comunale, will perform in the opera’s leading roles, with 13 SU students in secondary parts. Vivien Hewitt, a native of Ireland who has lived and worked in Italy for the past 20 years, will direct. Among her major credits is the Puccini Festival at Torre Del Lago, Italy. SU assistant professor of drama Alex Koziara will design lighting and sets, Antonio Colandrea of Maggiodanza and artistic director of Dancecyprus will choreograph, with costume design by well-known Italian designer Regina Schrecker.
ReplyDeletecan someone give me lisa's email? I was a student of hers and I would like to let her know how i'm doing. My email is goetz@usc.edu.
ReplyDeletethanks!