In honor of the 200th Anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe's birth, the American Lyric Theater asked three composers and three librettists last year as part of The Composer Librettist Development Program what they believed Poe would be writing if he were alive today. Under the mentorship of librettist Michael Korie and Producing Artistic Director Lawrence Edelson, these six artists have been developing THE POE PROJECT, a trilogy of one-act psychological thrillers inspired by Poe's short stories. Thanks to a commissioning grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, along with additional support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and The ASCAP Foundation: Joseph and Rosalie Meyer Fund, American Lyric Theater has commissioned the completion of this exciting and haunting new trilogy.
On Thursday May 27 at 8pm, ALT will present two excerpts from THE POE PROJECT as part of 21C Aria. Born out of the success of the 21c Liederabend that was presented at Galapagos in November 2009, the 21c Salon Series is an on-going series curated and produced by Beth Morrison Projects and presented by Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO, Brooklyn that surveys contemporary vocal music in the form of art song, opera and music-theatre, in many styles including acoustic, amped up, classical, indie-clasical, post-classical and new forms of vocal music waiting to be discovered.
Featured on the 21C Aria Program will be excerpts from BURIED ALIVE (Music by Jeff Myers, Libretto by Quincy Long) and OF THE FLESH (Music by Jay Anthony Gach, Libretto by Royce Vavrek). ALT favorites Baritone Christopher Burchett and Mezzo Soprano Sarah Heltzel will be joined by ALT newcomer Bass-Baritone Andrew Nolen for this Poe Project preview.
In addition, American Opera Projects, Beth Morrison Projects, Center for Contemporary Opera, The Coterie, and Metropolis Opera Project will present excerpts from a wide variety of new operas. All together, the evening will feature 3 world premieres, 2 US premieres, and 4 New York premieres of excerpts from new works currently being championed by New York based companies committed to contemporary American opera.
The event will take place at the Galapagos Art Space, located at 16 Main Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn. Tickets will be $20 at the door and $15 in advance or with student ID. Tickets may be purchased at www.galapagosartspace.com or by calling 212-868-4444.
