“Ambitiously explores the encounter between music and poetry.”
—The New York Times Magazine
A NEW AMERICAN OPERA
WORLD PREMIERE
Music & libretto by Matthew Aucoin
With the chamber orchestra A Far Cry
Directed by Diane Paulus
Inspired by the diary Walt Whitman kept as a nurse during the Civil War, this world premiere opera by the extraordinary young composer Matthew Aucoin explores how the individual experiences of soldiers are remembered and told. As Whitman listens to wounded veterans share their memories and messages, he forges a bond with a soldier who forces him to examine his own role as writer and poet. This new opera, featuring the Boston-based orchestra A Far Cry, an ensemble at the forefront of a dynamic new generation in classical music is produced in association with Music-Theatre Group.
#CrossingART @americanrep
Need to know
This production will be in English with supertitles.
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Notable dates
This production will be in English with supertitles.
Age Appropriateness
Ages 12 and up/6th Grade and up
Young theatergoers without prior experience with opera may benefit from some preparation on what to expect at an opera performance. Strong images of war and its aftermath may be disturbing to young children.
Discussions
“Crossing: A Lecture/Recital,” A recital and discussion with Matthew Aucoin (Harvard ’12) about Crossing, his new opera inspired by the journals and poetry of Walt Whitman, premiering this May at the American Repertory Theater. Aucoin will address the concept of “crossing” as both transcendence and transgression, in relationship to poetry, music, and history. He will be joined by Davone Tines (Harvard ’09), one of the performers in Crossing. Presented by the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard. (Thursday, Mar. 12, 6:00PM, Paine Hall, Music Building, 1 Oxford Street). Click here to watch a video of the event.
The A.R.T. is proud to be a part of the Blue Star Theatres network. US military personnel, military veterans and their families can receive up to four (4) tickets to Crossing at $5 off regular ticket price.
Press
Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal: Portrait of a Prodigy – Is Matthew Aucoin the Next Leonard Bernstein?
Now 24, Matthew Aucoin (oh-COIN) has become one of the most sought-after young voices in classical music. He also is one of the most ambitious, setting himself the goal of transforming opera into something other than musical spinach for a new generation. He is as close as the art form comes to a triple threat, racking up accomplishments as a composer, conductor and pianist. In the past year, he has received commissions from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., and signed on to develop new works for the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
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Harvard Gazette
Harvard Gazette: A Year Set to Music
Since graduating from Harvard last year, Aucoin has been in constant motion, performing and conducting in Italy, working at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, writing a new opera for the American Repertory Theater, and serving as the composer in residence at the Peabody Essex Museum. Soon he’ll begin a two-year fellowship with the Chicago Symphony. During a rare break, Aucoin spoke with the Gazette about his life after Harvard.
Read full article
Credits
Creative team
Music & Librettor
Matthew Aucoin
Set Designer
Tom Pye
Costume Designer
David Zinn
Lighting Designer
Jennifer Tipton
Projection Designer
Finn Ross
Sound Consultant
Aaron Mack
Associate Director
Andrew Eggert
Rehearsal Pianist
Adam Nielsen
Stage Manager
Carolyn Rae Boyd
Conductor
Matthew Aucoin
Choreographer
Jill Johnson
Director
Diane Paulus
Chamber Orchestra
A Far Cry
Cast
Walt Whitman
Rod Gilfry
John Wormley
Alexander Lewis
Freddi Stowers
Davóne Tines
Ensemble
William Goforth
Ensemble
Frank Kelley
Ensemble
Michael Kelly
Ensemble
David Kravitz
Ensemble
Matthew Patrick Morris
Ensemble
Miles Mykkanen
Ensemble
Daniel Neer
Ensemble
James Onstad
Ensemble
Edward Parks
Ensemble
Jorell Williams
Ensemble
Gregory Zavracky
Dancers
Hiroki Ichinose
Dancers
Jehbreal Jackson
Dancers
Waldean Nelson
Dancers
Jenna Polack
Additional staff
Assistant Director
Allegra Libonati
Assistant Choreographer
Clifford Williams
Assistant Stage Manager
Leeann Lisella
Dramaturgy
Ryan McKittrick
Music Preparation
Julia Bumke
Dialect Coach
Dawn-Elin Fraser
Production Assistants
Chaterine Agis, Nina Goodheart, Lily Haje
Assistant Conductor
Benjamin Vickers
Contractor, A Far Cry
Jason Fisher
Supertitle Preparation
Brenna Nicely
Projection Programmer
Matt Houstle
Follow Spot
John Borecki, RJ Lamura
Light Board Operator
Kevin Barnett
Props Craftsperson
Lisa Guild
Costume Crafts
Jen Bennett, Tyler Kinney, Chelsea Kerl
Producing Director, Music-Theatre Group
Diane Wondisford
COVERS
EDWARD PARKS Walt Whitman, MILES MYKKANEN John Wormley, IAN POMERANTZ Edward Parks, SHARIN APOSTOLOU Messenger
A FAR CRY
1st Violin — Mika-Sophia Cloud (Concertmaster), Annie Rabbat, Charles Dimmick
2nd Violin — Liesl Doty, Megumi Stohs Lewis, Andrew Eng
Viola — Jason Fisher, Sarah Darling, Amelia Hollander-Ames
Cello — Michael Unterman, Jacque Lee Wood
Doublebass — Karl Doty, Erik Higgins
Flute — Rachel Braude, Vanessa Holroyd
Oboe — Miri Kudo
Clarinet — Rane Moore
Bassoon — David Richmond
French Horn — Hazel Dean Davis, Clark Mattews
Trumpet — Paul Perfetti
Trombone — Gabe Langfur
Percussion — Nicholas Tolle, Robert Schulz, George Nickson
Piano — Adam Nielsen
SPECIAL THANKS
Brian Zeger; The Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts at the Julliard School; The John Duffy Composers Institute at the Virginia Arts Festival; Virgina Symphony Orchestra; Phillip Bauman, M.D.; Isaac Gerwitz, Curator of the Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Poetry; Phillip Rothman; Stephen Zinner, M.D.; Russell Nauta, M.D.; Deborah Weisgall
