Performances

Our next production is the world premiere performance of “QWERTY: An Opera With a [TEXT] Message”.

This exciting and accessible new opera by Resident Composer Robert J. Bradshaw, explores the world of texting and how young people prefer communicating through cyberspace instead of face to face.

Join us for this fun look at modern society, inspired by Menotti’s “The Telephone”.

It’s definitely a DON’T MISS!

Funded by the Music Drives Us Foundation.

CAST

Ella - Lynn Shane

Joe - Gary Wood

PIT

Clarinet - Monica Duncan

Violin - Nathan Cohen

Marimba - Kristján Á. Ásgeirsson

Piano - Beverly Soll

Musicians are appearing curtesy of the Beauport Chamber Players.

*NOTE: This is a concert performance of this chamber work including instrument demonstrations and a discussion of the composition by the composer.

WHAT IS CHAMBER OPERA?

Well, if you look it up online...”Chamber opera is a designation for operas written to be performed with a chamber ensemble rather than a full orchestra.”

We feel definition of chamber opera should focus on the singing and acting - not only the accompanying ensemble! It is opera after all.

For our purposes, chamber opera is a form of opera that places an emphasis on music and text, with minimal acting and sets, a limited number of vocal roles (with or without chorus) and is accompanied by anything from piano to chamber ensemble to chamber orchestra (as it is NOT the accompanying ensemble that defines the genre). Although there are some famous operas that are quite short, here at Cape Ann Opera, we like to perform chamber operas that are approximately one hour in length. Consequently, we have also adopted the term “operetta” or in our case “chamber operetta” (commonly defined as “a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.”) for works that are shorter in length (typically 30 minutes) that have a lighter feel and are specifically designed to be even more approachable to audiences not familiar with opera.

So, join us for an evening of music (with a little social commentary thrown in!) and we are sure you will leave ready to enjoy even more opera!

ABOUT “QWERTY”

QWERTY is the story of a question and whether it will ever be asked. Joe and Ella have to find the strength to put down their phones and speak directly to each other, rather than through the fast-paced and abbreviated world of text messaging. Can they do it? Can they ignore the ceaseless draw of the cellphone? Or in this world of constant connectivity, will they never connect? Join us to find out how the story ends!

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