|
The Pocket Opera Players
New York New Music Ensemble
James Baker, conductor Nicholas Rudall, director
Carmen Tellez, conductor Lawrence Edelson, director
John Eaton & Estela Eaton (libretto) “Travelling with Gulliver” (NY Premiere)
John Eaton & Richard Stern (libretto) “Golk” (NY Premiere)
John Eaton “Salome’s Flea Circus” (World Premiere)
Tthe Pocket Opera Players performed with the New York New Music Ensemble. Founded by (our own) celebrated composer John Eaton, a winner of the MacArthur Genius Award, the Players’ performances featured two of his Pocket Operas Travelling with Gulliver and Golk alongside the world premiere of Salome’s Flea Circus.
The performances included the talents of conductor Carmen Tellez and director Nicholas Rudall for “Golk” and conductor James Baker, director Lawrence Edelson and assistant director Christopher Altman for Travelling with Gulliver and Salome’s Flea Circus, the New York New Music Ensemble and singers from the Pocket Opera Players.
Travelling with Gulliver was an exciting piece that Eaton refers to as “a romp for instrumentalists and baritone.” One of his trademarks is his innovation with writing instrumental works that utilize the players in a theatrical fashion; he gave the instrumentalists an active role in telling the story. They whispered, spoke, shout, sang and even danced to bring the characters to life from Swift’s satire.
The “Golk” story is based on the novel of Richard Stern, with the author as librettist. Written for soprano, tenor, baritone, jazz singer, seven instrumentalists and electronic music performer, this opera parodies the television industry. A hilarious story with serious overtones, it has had several successful runs in Chicago where the novelist-librettist lives. It featured four of the excellent singers from the company.
Salome’s Flea Circus featured the clarinetist Jean Kopperud accompanied by the pianist Stephen Gosling. Salome, now an old woman, is successfully touring with a flea circus. But, disaster results when the fleas escape and Salome tries to resume her dancing career.
Named “the most interesting opera composer working in America today” by the London Financial Times, John Eaton’s works have been performed extensively throughout the world. In the United States, Eaton’s works have been performed by the San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Santa Fe Opera and the Cincinnati Symphony. Fesitval performances includ e Tanglewood, Aspen and Pepsico Summerfare. In addition, several of his works have been performed on national and international public radio and television.
| 
