On Friday, February 19, 2010 at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South, NYC), a gala evening will be held to benefit the Center For Contemporary Opera (CCO). The evening, hosted by WQXR radio host Midge Woolsey, celebrates the success of CCO's 2009-2010 season, which concludes on June 15 with the world premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a fully staged opera by John Eaton at Symphony Space.
The gala festivities will begin at 8:00 p.m. with cocktails, followed by an exclusive performance by CCO artists of highlights from this season's offerings, which include: The Secret Agent by Michael Dellaira and J.D. McClatchy; Discord/Accord by Eric Salzman; and Anaïs by Susan Hurley.
As part of CCO's new program designed to introduce contemporary opera to university students, James Madison University's Opera Workshop will present the New York premiere of Review, a short comic opera by
Jeremy Beck and Patricia Marx. This 30-minute opera, which was recently previewed at Opera America's national convention to great acclaim, is based on a short story written by Patricia Marx for The New Yorker.
Jeremy Beck's music has been performed internationally and has earned awards, grants and honors from the Millay Colony for the Arts, Meet the Composer, Wellesley Composers Conference, Oregon Bach Festival, American Composers Forum and American Music Center. His opera The Biddle Boys and Mrs. Soffel was cited by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as one of the "Top Ten Cultural Events in 2001", and his opera The Highway was presented by New York City Opera as a part of its Showcasing American Composers series.
Patricia Marx, a former writer for Saturday Night Live, has been published in The New Yorker, Time, and The New York Times, among others. The first woman elected to the Harvard Lampoon, she is the author of humor books (How to Regain Your Virginity and You Can Never Go Wrong by Lying) and children's books. Her most recent novel was Him Her Him Again The End of Him, published in 2008.
ABOUT JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY OPERA THEATER
The James Madison University Opera Theater, directed by Dr. Don Rierson, provides main stage and workshop opportunities for Performance Majors enrolled in BA, MM, and DMA programs at the university. With the opening of the new multi-million dollar Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the program has attracted outstanding graduates and undergraduates from prominent national and international arts high schools, universities, and conservatories. In recent years, JMU Opera Theater has presented critically acclaimed productions of "The Merry Widow," "Cosi fan Tutte," and "Carmen." The singers perform regularly in international venues in Germany, Italy, Wales, and England, and have been quite successful in university Concerto-Aria, NATS, and other national competitions. JMU annually hosts the first round of the Classical Singer competition, and maintains an active and enthusiastic Opera Guild. Last spring, they honored host composer Eric Salzman, and are thrilled to present
Jeremy Beck and Patricia Marx's "Review" this year at the National Arts Club under the tutelage of the Center for Contemporary Opera.
ABOUT CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY OPERA
Founded in 1982, the Center for Contemporary Opera (CCO) is dedicated to producing contemporary opera and nurturing innovative American composers, librettists, and performers. While almost every other opera company in the United States remains focused on a more Eurocentric tradition, CCO is uniquely committed to fostering an American tradition of opera and music-theater. This season, CCO embarks on a new era in its history with a new General Director, a new home, and an expanded vision.
The Center has presented over 50 works in readings, workshops, and full productions, including 18 world premieres. These include operas by such luminaries as
Dominick Argento,
Seymour Barab, Carlisle Floyd,
Ned Rorem, Eric Salzman, and
Conrad Susa to name only a few. This past season was the most ambitious yet, with highly-successful presentations of seven operas and music-theater works by Ben Yarmolinsky,
Annie Pasqua,
Matthew Harris, Barry O'Neal,
Randall Eng, Michael Sahl, and Morton Feldman; a panel discussion on the future of music-theater; and an evening spotlighting the celebrated American composer
Jack Beeson.
Jim Schaeffer, CCO General Director is an active performing musician and arts management expert, who formerly served as the director of Long Leaf Opera in Chapel Hill, NC. Recently appointed to this position at CCO, his predecessor was Founding Director
Richard Marshall, who retired in 2008. Mr. Schaeffer's primary objective has been to increase CCO's visibility and artistic standards while at the same time ensure its survival. A major component of this initiative has been Schaeffer's constant focus on introducing exciting and creative programs throughout the CCO seasons. A conductor, composer and bassoonist, Schaeffer has performed with several orchestras throughout the U.S. and Europe, and his compositions have been performed at the American Dance Festival among other venues.
TICKET INFORMATION:
A minimum tax-deductible donation of $25 secures a ticket to the Gala. For reservations at the Individual ($25), Member ($50 for two tickets) and Friend ($100 for four tickets) levels, please visit
www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006.
For five or more tickets or to make a donation at a higher level of support (Donor: $250, Patron: $500, Benefactor: $1,000 and Angel: $2,500), please call the company's office at 347-265-8943 or email js@conopera.org. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Photo: Patricia Marx
