THE GREEN OPERA PROJECT
United States' first "Green Opera" to be staged at
U-M
April 8 & 9
In the 45-minute opera, "The Child and the Magic Spells" (or "L'Enfant et des Sortileges" in the original French), a child despoils the environment, and the environment bites back. This green theme is carried through the opera's production, whose carbon footprint will be minimized by eliminating paper programs, using water-soluble paint on sets and natural fibers in costumes, and substituting the powerhouse stage klieglights for alternatively-powered LEDs. SMTD faculty member Robert Swedberg leads a group of undergraduate voice majors and a team of collaborators from Engineering, Computer and Environmental Science, Digital Media, Music, Theater, and Dance in this ground-breaking production.
April 8 & 9 in the new Stamps Auditorium in the Walgreen Center on North Campus.
FREE admission!
The Green Opera is also on Facebook.
Cast of Characters (Thursday cast indicated with *)
The Child...................................................Kate Wakefield, Sarah Hucal*
The Mother................................................Carrie Reid-Knox
Shepherd..................................................Courtney Miller
Shepherdess.............................................Kelly Ritter, Stephanie Hradsky*
Louis XIV Chair..........................................Claire DiVizio, Alexandria Clark*
Arm Chair..................................................Claudio Nunez, Andrew Smith*
Fire...........................................................Mary Martin, Heather Denny*
Grandfather Clock.....................................Brandon Grimes, Zach Barnes*
Caged Squirrel..........................................Elizabeth Randolph
Black Cat...................................................Zach Barnes, Brandon Grimes*
China Cup..................................................Elizabeth Randolph
Teapot.......................................................Andrew Coniglio
Princess.................. ..................................Stephanie Hradsky, Kelly Ritter*
Arithmetic...................................................Michael Bigelow, Andrew Coniglio*
White Cat..................................................Courtney Miller
Tree...........................................................Andrew Kurland, John Hummel*
Dragonfly...................................................Carrie Reid-Knox
Nightingale................................................Audrey Kline, Catherine Wethington*
Bat.............................................................Yasas Rangajeewa Jayawardena
Tree-Frog...................................................Michael Bigelow
Owl............................................................Claire DiVizio, Alexandria Clark*
Dancers...............................Daniella Blechner, Rachele Donofrio, Trina Mannino, ............................................and Lara Martin
Saxophone Solo.........................................Jonathan Hulting-Cohen
Stage Director............................................Robert Swedberg
Music Director, Pianist................................Kathryn Goodson
Conductors......................... Mark Latham, Christopher Rountree, Dana Sadava, ............................................Oriol Sans Arrufat and Yaniv Segal
Choreographer..........................................Aidan Feldman
Original Graphic Art ...................................Lisa Buck
Graphic Design, Supertitles, Animation......Robert Swedberg
Lighting Design..........................................Rob Murphy
Stage Manager..........................................Hailli Ridsdale
Costumes and Puppets.............................Claire DiVisio
Titles operator...........................................Caitlin O'Rourke
Why and how this is a Green Opera
Last year (2008) at the annual Opera America conference, Robert Swedberg was asked to chair a panel on "Green Stages." It became quickly evident from that meeting of technical directors from professional opera companies in North America, that very little was being done to conserve natural resources in the creation, rehearsing, building, and presentation of operatic performances. Stage scenery typically cannot be recycled if flame-retardant coating or paint is applied, costumes are created often with synthetic fabrics, and stage lighting in the theater can often consume enormous amounts of energy.
As a new hire this year in the University of Michigan School of Music, with the charge to create more opera performance experiences for undergraduates, Professor Swedberg saw the opportunity of combining the presentation of a project for the Opera Studio class with the possibility of producing it as a "green" opera. The selection of Maurice Ravel’s opera "L'Enfant et les Sortileges" (The Child and the Magic Spells) enables the 22 students enrolled in the class to play interesting roles in a 45 minute-long opera, performed in French with supertitles. The opera will be presented April 8th and 9th at 7:30 in Stamps Auditorium, in the Walgreen Center – North Campus at University of Michigan. The opera itself will be interpreted to focus on the relationship between man and environment as elements in the child’s room and garden come to life to pay the child back for abusive behavior. The production features several student conductors, and student choreographer Aidan Feldman. Dr. Kathryn Goodson is Musical Director, and will accompany the performances at the piano.
Working with collaborators from several different departments at the University of Michigan, (Music, Theater, and Dance, Engineering, Computer and Environmental Science, Digital Media) the green aspect of the presentation is focused on minimizing or eliminating paper schedules, handouts, and programs, (instead offering all such information online, except for promotional materials graciously created on 100% recycled material, with soy-based ink) and using recyclable materials in the construction of set and costumes. The carbon footprint is being calculated for all activity related to the opera, with the goal of either eliminating or reducing elements that can lead to the greatest savings of energy in the process. Energy efficient LED lights are being used for the first time in Stamps auditorium, and several different types of alternative energy generation are being considered to power them.
For more information, contact Robert Swedberg (Swedberg@umich.edu)
Special Thanks to:
Christopher Kendall, Dean – School of Music, Theatre, & Dance
Theresa Reid, Jane Larson – Arts on Earth
Dr. Jack Edelstein – Planet Blue
Professor Gregory Wakefield – Department of Engineering
Kenneth Kiesler – Professor of Conducting
Scott Currington – House Manager – Stamps Auditorium
Renae Skoog – Wardrobe Supervisor SMTD
Glenda Radine, Jaques Mersereau, Greg Sadler, Gary Was, Abigail Mechtenberg
L'Enfant et les Sortilèges
By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., Sole Agent in the US, Canada and Mexico for Durand S.A. Editions Musicales, a Universal Music Publishing Group company, publisher and copyright owner.
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