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World Premiere

Angel’s Bone

Jan 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, & 17, 2016 at 3LD Art & Technology Center

Angel’s Bone is a new work of opera-theatre that follows the plight of two angels whose nostalgia for earthly delights has, mysteriously, brought them back to our world. They are found battered and bruised from their long journey by a man and his wife. Mr. and Mrs. X.E. set out to nurse the wounded angels back to health: they bathe them, wash the dirt from their nails…then lock them in a room and decide to exploit these magical beings for wealth and personal gains. Angel’s Bone melds chamber music, theatre, punk rock, opera, cabaret, and electronics, exploring the dark effects and motivations behind modern-day slavery and the trafficking industry.

 

Originally commissioned by the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

 

Completion co-commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and HERE

 

Co-produced by Beth Morrison Projects, HERE, and Trinity Wall Street

 

Photos by Cory Weaver.

Co-Presented with

“An appallingly good work…Ms. Du and her brilliant librettist, Royce Vavrek, refuse to moralize…Ms. Du’s music obeys only her own omnivorous tastes and assured dramatic instincts.”

– Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times

 

“Devastating…Disturbing, powerful and original, effectively using electronics and video, the opera ended with the evil wife tearfully pleading her case on daytime TV, adding the final nail of credibility to a work that gave me nightmares, yet one that I would nonetheless see again.”

– Anne Midgette, The Washington Post

 

“Savage and uncompromising… An 80-minute descent into extreme cruelty, the score is a genre stew in which operatic and pop singing, faux-Renaissance polyphony that slides into dissonance, jazz riffs and electronic howls are deftly welded into a lean, propulsive dramatic arc that leaves the listener shocked and drained.”

– Heidi Waleson, The Wall Street Journal

Cast
Mrs. X.E. – Abigail Fischer
Mr. X.E. – Kyle Pfortmiller
Girl Angel – Jennifer Charles
Boy Angel – Kyle Bielfield

Featuring the Choir of Trinity Wall Street and NOVUS NY

Additional Credits:
Choir of Trinity Wall Street: Eric Brenner, Tomas Cruz, Clifton Massey, Thomas McCargar, Scott Mello, Molly Netter, Timothy Parsons, Melanie Russell, Jonathan Woody

Novus NY: Thomas Bergeron (Trumpet), Stuart Breczinski (Oboe), Adam Cockerham (Lute), David Cossin (Percussion), Anna Elashvili (Violin), Catherine Rose Gregory (Flute), Stephanie Griffin (Viola), Chris Gross (Cello), Moran Katz (Clarinet), Ian Rosenbaum (Percussion), Ben Vokits (Tuba)

Video Engineer Jonathan Brenner
Master Electrician Justin Nardecchia
Set Construction Jackie Denise Young
Costume Construction Julia Bowers, Karen Boyer, Anjia Jalac, Marea Judilla
Music Librarian Harrison Joyce

  • Music
    Du Yun
  • Libretto
    Royce Vavrek
  • Music Direction
    Julian Wachner
  • Director
    Michael McQuilken
  • Scenic Design
    Matt Saunders
  • Lighting Design
    Yi Zhao
  • Costume Design
    Kate Fry
  • Projections Designer
    Hannah Wasileski
  • Choregrapher
    Christy Lee
  • Stage Manager
    Catherine Costanzo
  • Production Manager
    Karen Walcott, James Fry
  • Line Producer
    Katie Naka
  • Sound Engineer
    Jay Eigenmann
  • Assistant Stage Manager
    Cressa Amundsen
  • Assistant Conductor
    Samuel McCoy
  • Rehearsal Pianist/Vocal Coach
    Mila Henry
  • Assistant Director/Supertitles
    Anne Cecelia Haney
  • Show run time
    80 minutes