The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts
is pleased to invite you to
CONSTELLATIONS, by 2015 Grant recipient Susana Amundarain
A World Premiere in Philadelphia at The Neighborhood House Theater
CONSTELLATIONS: A ONE-ACT OPERA CONCERT
BY COMPOSER EFRAIN AMAYA
Dates: December 4th and 5th 2015
Time: 8pm
Address: The Neighborhood House Theater, 20 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Discount parking for event @ Park America (behind the theater, on Filbert St.)
Tickets: $25 click here
Talk with the composer and other collaborators Friday December 4th after the concert at The Neighborhood House Theater
Thirteen musicians and three singers, conducted by composer Efraín Amaya, will bring to life this new operatic music, amidst small performance gestures on stage.
“Constellations” is a new powerful chamber opera by composer Efraín Amaya. It’s inspired by the struggles of a displaced renowned artist and his family, during times of world conflict, and the power of Art to heal and transcend human suffering.
The fictional story is based on a vignette of the life of artist Joan Miró, the internationally renowned Spanish painter, during his exile in Northern France in the early days of World War II. It was at this time when he started the creation of his well-known series of twenty-three gouaches, the Constellations. These works became a symbol of the power of art in its pursuit of the elevation of the spirit, even at the peak of social crisis and upheaval.
Amaya composed the music to a story and libretto written by Susana Amundaraín, with whom he has collaborated in previous productions. This work started during an intensive period of creativity, during the summer of 2012 at Yaddo, New York, as they were guests in the legendary Artists Residency program of this organization. Both artists empathize with the critical circumstances Miró and his family endured while away from their native country, which struggled under a ruthless dictatorship. This is the first time an opera will be premiered surrounding Miró’s work and life.
This opera is written for three singers, thirteen musicians, and a conductor. This World Premiere performance will be presented in concert form by Arts Crossing, a new non-profit arts organization, in the Philadelphia area, which is set up to develop and produce interdisciplinary art works.
“As I reflected on their particular situation back then, I realized it is a current and timeless tale of uncertainty amongst families in search of safer places, and of a better life. We tend to look for the spiritual in the midst of crisis, and we make our faith stronger when a part of ourselves surrenders.” -Susana Amundaraín
This premiere concert will feature Raquel Winnica Young (Mezzo), Sarah Shafer (soprano), and Dan Kempson (Baritone).
Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2464795 or at the door
General Admission is $25/ 40% off when bought the night before the concert, through BrownPaper Tickets/
Students and seniors $15 at the door
For further information about Arts Crossing and the performance of “Constellations”, contact:
Susana Amundaraín susana.amundarain@gmail.com
Efraín Amaya efrainamaya.com@gmail.com
or Vanessa Briceno-Scherzer (Media manager) vbscherzer@gmail.com
This production is supported (in part) through grants from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Composers Forum, Tanner Film and Art (NY), and The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts (VAEA) in NY.