Composer/Singer Marisa Michelson Premieres New Work At Judson

Recognized as a leading voice in choral and musical theatre composition, composer/theatre-maker/singer Marisa Michelson is hailed for writing and/or performing profound works with a rich tapestry of complicated choral and musical stylings. Michelson's 2018 season begins February 1-3, 2018, with the world premiere of The Desire/Divinity Project, a two-part musical piece featuring Michelson and her vocal performance ensemble, Constellation Chor, live orchestration, and dance choreographed by #Mamaisamaker's Emma Crane Jaster (Loft Opera). Directed by Ethan Heard (Heartbeat Opera) and originally choreographed by Chase Brock (currently by Emma Crane Jaster), this Project was developed by Michelson while researching mind/body/spirit practices with virtuosic singing as an artist-in-residence at Judson Memorial Church. Part One: Song of Songs of Songs explores the relationship between the sensual and the sacred, the body and the spirit, through an exegesis of the Western world's oldest erotic poem, Song of Songs.

Featuring an empowered woman at its center it unfolds through three distinct musical movements scored for 15 singers, bansuri flute, melodica, cello, and percussion. Part Two: Sappho Fragments brings to life the spirit of Sappho, an archaic female controversial Greek poet. Through poetry, voice, breath, and movement, the Chor exemplifies Sappho's crackling poetry and its layers of meaning and universality. Collectively, the two Parts engage with the intersection between voice, movement, storytelling, healing, meditation, gesture, inner-development, Oliveros' Deep Listening, and music-theatre.

Collaborating performers:
Jen Anaya (actor/musician/singer)
Nikko Benson (Musical Theater Factory)
Kinga Cserjesi (La Compagnia Amarilli)
Chad Goodridge (Obie Award winner, Crowded Outlet: Lone Star Spirits)
Tamrin Goldberg (New York Innovative Theatre Award winner)
Aubrey Johnson (jazz vocalist)
Luisa Muhr (Women Between Arts at The New School, FENGARI Ensemble)
Sarah Beth Pfeiffer (The Lightning Thief, The Cadaver Synod)
Marina Pires (Evita)
Raphael Sacks (English National Opera, Loom Ensemble)
Heath Saunders (The Great Comet)
Sara Serpa (jazz vocalist)
Shawn Shafner (artist/activist, The People's Own Organic Power Project)
Kalliopi Siamidou (vocalist/pianist)

Instrumentalists:
Bansuri Flute/Wind/Reed - Pawan Benjamin
Cello - Brian Sanders
Drums - Jay Sawyer

The Desire/Divinity Project is developed with support from The Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund, Kara Unterberg, Judson Memorial Church, Heartbeat Opera, and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.