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Our Story
We are a group of artists dedicated to presenting this one-of-a-kind opera. We first gave a semi-staged East Coast premiere in February 2011 to a sold-out audience on one night as part of a new music festival. We knew this piece must have more performances, as many audience members remarked on how "crazy" it was to put all that work into a one-night only event. As the opera was composed over years with many workshops, it is the kind of piece that has a depth of detail and artistry that cannot be performed by just anyone--which is why it is rarely performed.
We are really living the piece and becoming a part of it.
Donatienne Michel-Dansac, one of the original performers of the work, has graciously agreed to help advise us and coach us remotely from France on an authentic interpretation.
Megan Schubert, Soprano I
Christie Finn, Soprano II
Gelsey Bell, Soprano III
Silvie Jensen, Mezzo
Amirtha Kidambi, Contralto
Émilie Girard-Charest, Cello
Jeremy Bloom, Stage Director
Nick DeMaison, Music Director
Kryssy Wright, Lighting Designer
Florent Ghys, Supertitles Operator
Sextuor is composed as an oratorio by Georges Aperghis, telling the story of life interpreted in fossil records through a libretto co-written by François Regnault and Georges Aperghis, inspired by Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, and Stephen Jay Gould's Wonderful Life.
"In the beginning... there was not a beginning. The common ancestor is unknown. Between each species and the common ancestor, who is unknown, one must seek, forever seek the intermediate forms."
Narrated by the cellist, and also by the singers through straight singing, Sprechstimme, nonsensical syllables evoking the sounds of beginning life forms and fast-forward sound portraiture of evolution, and as instruments, the story unfolds through bouts of rhythmic complexity and quartertones, and each of the performer's symbolic characters is revealed in a celebration of nature and humanity.
"Immense Nature improbable and unpredictable, contingent nature, where are we going, we who say life was wonderful, we who say life is wonderful?"
Translations by Cozette Griffin-Kremer
The Impact
You can help support the work of these amazing, unique artists and their craft in a story never before told in such a way.
What We Need & What You Get
The funds raised through this campaign all go to the artists for their time and contributed talents.
We are preparing for performances February 2, 3, and 4, 2012 at 8PM at Joria Productions, and there will be a preview January, 16 at 7PM at Le Poisson Rouge. The performances will be documented with photo and video. All donors will receive a personal thank-you note.
Other Ways You Can Help
Please spread the word! Any science-buffs, Francophiles and linguists, and music lovers would find this work intriguing and worth seeing more than once!
Team on This Campaign:
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Megan Schubertproducer, performer
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Christie Finnperformer
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Nicholas DeMaisonmusic director