New Music, Including Opera

I wrote last spring about the fine chamber music series Music from Copland House (MCH),  which offers audiences a chance to hear contemporary composers year round (and with the addition of Millerton’s Now! Concerts, a trend may be developing). On Sept. 19 in Mt. Kisco, NY, MCH brought famed composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz to the capacious barn at this Westchester estate, Merestead, for a sneak preview of his first opera, “Séance on a Wet Afternoon.†Artistic director Michael Boriskin traced the path of Schwartz’s career from “Godspell†and “Pippin†to his current smash hit “Wicked,†following which tenor Michael Marcotte joined Schwartz to sing through some of his fine songs, including “Day By Day,†“Corner of the Sky,†and “For Good.â€

Based on a novel by Mark McShane and a 1964 British film, Séance is about a warped medium who seeks to further her career by kidnapping a child and then revealing information about her whereabouts in a a trance. In talking about developing the opera, which premièred last year in Santa Barbara and will come to New York City Opera in April, Schwartz noted the differences between writing opera and musicals and said he had been attracted to this story for a long time but found it too subtle and moody for musical theater, and was delighted to have the chance to try his hand at opera. The libretto, he said, was completed first, and then he began the the music, of which we heard about 20 minutes, including an aria, “One Little Lie,†sung by the sensational soprano Lauren Flanigan, for whom the work was written (hear it for yourself on YouTube).

The overall impression was of high-intensity drama —“it’s really dark, I’m happy to say,†Schwartz grinned — with finely crafted lyrics.

   The City Opera production opens April 19 and will have ten performances, a huge commitment for a new work. But they are certainly counting on Schwartz’s millions of “Wicked†fans to venture into an opera house for the first time and maybe try some Mozart and Verdi after that. Then he’ll really have given the art form a big boost.

   Music from Copland House continues its series at Merestead on Oct 3 with a salute to the American Songbook by new cabaret artist Jennifer Sheehan, and then on Oct. 24 it’s an 80th birthday celebration for composer David Amram, who championed world music long before the term became popular, and who still maintains a performance schedule that would leave many younger people gasping.

   November brings the Borromeo Quartet and clarinetist Derek Bermel to play “The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind†by Osvaldo Golijov.  The complete schedule can be found at www.coplandhouse.org.

   Upcoming events of note:

The Hartt School of Music has an outstanding program of student and faculty recitals. Next week there’s a free concert of contemporary music, including the première of David Macbride’s “Ave Maris Stella†for oboe (Stuart Breczinski) and improvised percussion (Joey Van Hassell), along with works by Adams, Crumb, Ives, and Varese, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Millard Auditorium, Hartt School, University of Hartford: 860-768-4454.

   An unusual concert of “mad†songs by Purcell and his contemporaries are scheduled for the Leaf Peepers series, starting Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church on Church Street in Copake, NY. The fine performers include violinist Sanford Allen, soprano Julianne Baird, harpsichord Edward Brewer, with actress Chase Crosley narrating. Tickets $20 at the door or call 518-325-3805 or 329-5613.

   Folksinger Cheryl Wheeler brings her heartfelt songs and guitar to Infinity Hall Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m. An artist with a fine voice and a good sense of humor. $25/30/40 at infinityhall.com or call 860-542-5531.

   Also at Infinity Hall in Norfolk, flutist Rhonda Larson is presenting a stylish mix of sacred, folk, medieval, classical and Celtic music. Once associated with conductor/composer Paul Halley, who wrote ravishingly beautiful melodies for her to play with Chorus Angelicus, she now lives in Michigan, writes her own music, including some tunes for “Survivor, and has shared the stage with notables from the Dalai Lama to Nelson Mandela. Infinity Hall, Oct. 9. $35/50.