NY International Fringe Festival Presents TRUTH, An American Opera about Sojourner Truth

Once in a Blue Moon Music is proud to present the New York City premiere of TRUTH, An American Opera about Sojourner Truth as a part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. TRUTHilluminates the dynamic life and legacy of Sojourner Truth, a complicated, brilliant woman who escaped slavery to become an African-American abolitionist, women's rights activist and a relentless and articulate champion for freedom and justice. The fourth opera by composer Paula M. Kimper (Patience & Sarah), stars soprano Mari-Yan Pringle as Truth, and the ensemble of five singers and seven-piece orchestra conducted by the composer brings to life this American heroine of extraordinary scope in this chamber version of the opera. The remaining performances take place at Theatre 80, 80 St. Marks Place between 1st and 2nd Avenues on Monday, August 12 at 4:15 p.m.; Friday, August 16 at 7:45 p.m.; Saturday, August 17 at 9:15pm; and Sunday, August 25 at 5:45 p.m. (No late seating.) Tickets cost $15 ($18 at the door) and can be purchased by calling 866-468-7619 or online at www.FringeNYC.org.

Sojourner Truth lived a life of bravery in the face of unfathomable adversity and never wavered in her faith and hope for a world where all people would experience the birthright of freedom. A former slave, she dedicated her life to freeing others and she advocated nonviolence to Frederick Douglass and other leaders even as the Civil War overtook them. Her popular speech on gender inequalities, "Aren't I a Woman?," was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention.

Paula Kimper's first opera, Patience & Sarah, premiered in the Lincoln Center Festival in 1998. Her other operas The Captivation of Eunice Williams (2004) and The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2007), based on Thornton Wilder's novel, received critical acclaim. The world premiere of her latest opera, TRUTH, was commissioned by Old Deerfield Productions and was presented in February 2012 at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA. She has received commissions from The Phoenix Concerts, Amy Pivar Dances, Richard Daniels, Downtown Music Productions, The Walt Whitman Project, American Opera Projects, Opera America, and others.

The cast also features baritone Jorell Williams, soprano Heather Meyer and tenor Stephen Biegner.

The libretto is by Talaya Delaney, with projections rendered by Amy Johnquest, and staging by Linda McInerney and Lori Holmes Clark. Much of the accessible score is derived from folk themes and spirituals, and includes many of Sojourner's own words.

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