Experiments in Opera
Our Vision Experiments in Opera is focused on re-writing the story of opera. We are excited that new operas can be adventurous and fun, focused on strong and intimate storytelling, while also challenging notions of what experimental music can be.
Contemporaneous
Producing Partner and Orchestra
Chunky in Heat
Six composers collaborate on a new opera that tells a shared family history through different musical and storytelling perspectives.
Experiments in Opera, in collaboration with Contemporaneous, presents the premiere of the newly-commissioned opera, Chunky in Heat, at the Flea Theater in New York City from May 31 – June 2, 2019. Celebrated author A.M. Homes wrote the libretto for Chunky in Heat based on her own short stories about a teenage girl who struggles to break free from her oppressive family in contemporary Los Angeles. Experiments in Opera has commissioned six stylistically-diverse composers to contribute music: Jason Cady, Paula Matthusen, Erin Rogers, Aaron Siegel, Shelley Washington, and Matthew Welch. Each composer will write a 15-minute section of music that will be ‘sewn’ together with other sections into a full 100-minute opera, which will be fully-staged under the direction of Alison Moritz.
Media Highlights
New York Oud Festival Night Two: Zafer Tawil and Gabe Lavin
Barbes
New York Oud Festival Day 3: Bahar Badieitabar and Ertugrul Erkisi
The Owl Music Parlor
World Premiere of Shifting Ground Performed by Violinist Alexi Kenney and New Media Artist Xuan
Baryshnikov Arts, 450 West 37th Street, New York, NY