Summary
"Jazzopera's" plot involves two families linked by love and loss brought together through jazz, gospel singing, and the church and divided by crises of incest, drug addiction, race riots and murder. According to Davis, who says that his goal in life has always been to be a good, complete musician, "Jazzopera's" musical influences run the gamut from big Band and mainstream jazz to Stravinsky.
"This performance promises to be one of the most diverse and all-embracing cultural events to take place in Pittsburgh," said Jonathan Eaton, the Opera Theater's artistic director. Baritones Herbert and Eugene Perry, twin brothers who have appeared in major roles with leading opera companies throughout the world, including the 2003 world premiere of "Philip Glass: The Sound of a Voice," have unique leads in "Jazzopera." "We started out thinking they would divide naturally into narrator and enactor, then we found as we worked more deeply into each character that it was more effective for each to play different fragments of the same personality. One is more the momentary consciousness, the other is more caught up in life's journey, explained Eaton.See the full content of this document
Extract
Unique 'Jazzopera' Premiere
"Jazzopera: Just Above My Heada," a unique operatic fusion of jazz, gospel, Western classical music and modern dance composed by University of Pittsburgh Jazz Studies Director Nathan Davis will receive its world premiere performanc...
See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
