top of page

Opera Bites

Our Third Annual Feast

of 10-Minute Operas

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOSTON NEW MUSIC INITIATIVE AND
LONGY SCHOOL OF MUSIC OF BARD COLLEGE
NOVEMBER 10 – 12, 2017

People Love Opera Bites!

"Delightfully thought-provoking and fun...a delicious program celebrating life’s sweetest and sometimes most sour moments with cleverness and heart."

 

"The snappy selection of short-form pieces was very palatable to the viewer. From a love triangle amongst goddesses and mortals to a fetus’ existential crisis in utero, each “bite” had a different flavor."

"Boston Opera Collaborative struck gold again with this refined selection of short and sweet works."

The Theatre Times Review

The Experience

Another fabulous evening of opera and revelry in a cabaret style setting, featuring seven short works — including three brand new commissions and world-premieres!

 

For our third annual evening of Opera Bites we have again partnered with Longy School of Music of Bard College and, for the first time, with Boston New Music Initiative (BNMI). 

 

A delicious program of bite-sized opera — performed in English and accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble — along with festive food and drink!

This program was made possible in part by a George Henschel Community Award from the Harvard Musical Association.

On This Page

Cast/Creative Team
Slide Show

Cast & Creative Team

Cast

Creative Team

The Shows

The Shows

Symposium

Music by Oliver Caplan, libretto by Anne Ray

Connecting with other people is so hard – especially when you can’t stop arguing with yourself. Three singers play one woman deciding whether to risk embarrassment for a chance at love.

DIRECTION
Nathan Lofton, conductor
Jean Anderson Collier, music director
Adrienne Boris, stage director
CAST
Tamara Ryan, April 1
Alyssa Hensel, April 2
Susannah Thornton, April 3
Mitch Fitzdaniel, Man

Voice on the Wire

Music by Carrie Magin, libretto by Kendall A

She sacrificed much to help bring her husband’s technology to the world. But Mabel Bell, a Cambridge native deaf from childhood, would never get to hear or use her husband’s masterpiece: the telephone.

DIRECTION
Jean Anderson Collier, music director
Greg Smucker, stage director
CAST
Rebecca Krouner, Mabel

Wish You Were Here

Music by Eva Kendrick, libretto by Claudia Haas

Every once in a while, you meet someone who might have been your soulmate – had your paths taken different turns. Of course, when the street lights in Paris begin to glow, anything is possible.

DIRECTION
Nathan Lofton, conductor
Chelsea Whitaker, music director
Adrienne Boris, stage director
CAST
Carley DeFranco, Ashley
Scott Ballantine, Jean-Louis

Triangle

Music by Tony Solitro, libretto by Jane Martin

Love triangles are never easy. But when the “other woman” your boyfriend has fallen in love with is a goddess? OMG. How do you compete with that?

DIRECTION
Tian Hui Ng conductor
Brendon Shapiro, music director
Greg Smucker, stage director
CAST
Celeste Godin, Joyce
Fran Rogers, Art
Sirgourney Tanner, The Other Woman

Rapture

Music and libretto by David Wolfson

As a mother eagerly awaits The Rapture that will deliver her to Heaven, her doubtful and resentful daughter realizes that the two of them are not so different after all

DIRECTION
Tian Hui Ng conductor
Brendon Shapiro, music director
Patricia-Maria Weinmann, stage director
CAST
Stephanie Hollenberg, Holly
Jenny Marguiles, Sylvia

Lucy
Music and libretto by Tom Cipullo

When an elderly woman living alone wishes for some company, a strange man who swears he isn't Death keeps dropping to entertain and comfort her.

DIRECTION
Chelsea Whittaker, music director/pianist
Greg Smucker, stage director
CAST
Shannon Grace, Lucy
Junhan Choi, Young Man

Womb with a View
Music by Beth Ratay, libretto by Rich Orloff

Baby is due! But before she enters the world, she has a few questions and needs some last minute adjustments.

DIRECTION
Tian Hui Ng, conductor
Brendon Shapiro, music director
Patricia-Maria Weinmann, stage director
CAST
Jenny Marguiles, Supervisor
Natalie Logan, New Kid
Celeste Godin, Assistant A
Alyssa Hensel, Assistant B
bottom of page