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Chelsea Opera presents the New York City premieres of "Josephine" and "After Life"
Melissa Wimbish is Josephine Baker in Josephine, to be performed by Chelsea Opera on December 1. Photo by Teresa Wood
December 1 at 7:00 pm:
Chelsea Opera presents the New York City premieres of Josephine and After Life
Two one-act operas by composer Tom Cipullo
On Saturday, December 1 at 7:00 pm, Chelsea Opera presents the New York City premieres of Josephine and After Life, two one-act operas by Tom Cipullo. The performance is at Christ & St. Stephen's Church (120 W 69th St., NY, NY). Tickets range from $20-$45 and are available online. Complete details are below and at ChelseaOpera.org.
In Cipullo's monodrama Josephine, the entertainer and activist Josephine Baker grants an interview in her dressing room shortly before her last triumphant appearance. Using Ms. Baker's own words as the libretto, Josephine explores the title character's equally charming and volatile personality as she muses on sex, race, war, and her experiences in pre-war Paris.
After Life brings Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso back from the hereafter to debate their legacies as well as their activities in WWII Paris. Their confrontation is interrupted by the ghost of a Holocaust victim who forces them to reconsider the meaning of death. In the words of Tom Cipullo, "the real value of art comes after such horrific moments, helping us, as individuals and as a culture, make sense of the incomprehensible."
"With each Chelsea Opera production, I hope to convey a meaningful experience and create a deep and lasting impression for each person in attendance," says Chelsea Opera president and artistic director Leonarda Priore. "Tom Cipullo has the ability to touch the audience with his subject matter, writing and music in a way that goes straight to the core. Each person in the audience is forever changed."
Now in its 15th season, Chelsea Opera presents fully staged operas with chamber orchestra, a concert series, and other musical endeavors. Founded in 2004 by professional singers Lynne Hayden-Findlay and Leonarda Priore, Chelsea Opera has given hundreds of artists the chance to practice their craft in a supportive professional setting. Chelsea Opera's productions of new and classic repertoire provide enthusiasts and newcomers the chance to see high quality productions with chamber orchestra in a relaxed and welcoming location with ticket prices that are affordable to a broad spectrum of the community. Performances take place in locations where the intimacy and superior acoustics make the experience exceedingly attractive for all involved. Learn more at ChelseaOpera.org