ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
The production we are developing is called JUPITERS JOURNEY TO THE EARTH. It will be an original adaptation of Haydn’s marionette opera “Philemon und Baucis, oder Jupiters Reise auf die Erde.” It will mix puppets, opera singers, and period instruments and be presented in English. Franz Joseph Haydn’s opera was originally written for a marionette theater at the Royal Castle of Esterhazy in the 18th Century. The libretto is by Philipp Georg Bader and Gottlieb Pfeffel and is based upon one of the tales in Ovid’s ‘Metamorphosis.’ In the story, the gods are looking down upon the earth, and observing how mankind is mistreating each other and the world in which they live. At first the gods throw storms upon the earth as punishment for the human’s bad behavior. Before destroying everything, the gods decide to search for any moral good remaining, Jupiter and Mercury descend upon the earth to find the family of Philemon and Baucis are worth saving.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
the little OPERA theatre of ny (LOTNY) is a chamber opera company that was founded in 2004. Its most recent production was the 2019 NY premiere of Benjamin Britten’s Owen Wingrave at the GK Arts Center in DUMBO. Prior productions include the NY premiere of J.A. Hasse’s Piramo e Tisbe, which was described as “superbly smart and affecting” by Parterre and “fit for a king” by ConcertoNet. The 2017 New York premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players was widely praised, and described by the New York Times as “well made and stylish.” Other recent productions include Chevalier de Saint-George’s L’Amant Anonyme, which was heralded as “an exercise in restrained beauty;” and the 2014 production of Carlisle Floyd’s Slow Dusk & Markheim was warmly received, described as “ambitious and rewarding” by Opera News. Past seasons have included Rossini’s Opportunity Makes the Thief, a production that Opera News called a “lively and enlightening contribution… to New York City’s operatic life”; Gluck’s 1760 comic opera, The Reformed Drunkard; and a double bill entitled Travelers, which included two rarities by Gustav Holst (The Wandering Scholar and Sāvitri). A “Critic’s Pick” in The New Yorker and New York Times, Travelers garnered critical praise. New York Times commended the opera’s “delicate balance of grandeur and intimacy.” In 2011, LOTNY presented the New York stage premiere of Mozart’s youthful opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto to sold-out houses, and received widespread press coverage. Work with living composers include the production of Inessa Zaretsky’s Man in a Black Coat as part of Target Margin’s Last Futurist Lab at The Bushwick Starr. Concert presentations have included: This Little Light of Mine: The Stories of Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price created by and featuring Adrienne Danrich presented at Merkin Concert Hall, Make Believe: A tribute to Jerome Kern, and The Bohemians both presented at Socrates Sculpture Park.