About this project
In 2004 I discovered the journals of Isabelle Eberhardt, and embarked on what would become the largest and most ambitious musical project of my life (so far!). Isabelle Eberhardt (1877-1904) was one of the most unusual and independent women of her era. She was born in Switzerland but left home at age 19 to travel alone through North Africa. She dressed as an Arab man, joined a Sufi order, fell in love with an Algerian soldier, was nearly assassinated, roamed the desert alone on horseback, and eventually drowned in a desert flash flood at age 27. Her journals, salvaged from the wreckage of that 1904 flood, are the inspiration for my first opera, SONG FROM THE UPROAR: THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF ISABELLE EBERHARDT. Over the past five years I have worked in collaboration with filmmaker Stephen Taylor, librettist Royce Vavrek and director Gia Forakis to expand this piece into a fullly-staged opera, and I can state without hesitation that this has been the most fulfilling and challenging project I have ever initiated. Each day I am newly inspired by the universal themes in Isabelle's story: the confusion of falling in love, conflicts between eastern and western cultures, and the desire to break with one's past and forge a new identity.
We're delighted to announce that SONG FROM THE UPROAR will premiere February 24-March 3 at the Kitchen in New York City, featuring performances by mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer (Isabelle Eberhardt), chamber group NOW Ensemble and vocalists Amelia Watkins, Celine Mogielnicki, Kate Maroney, Peter Stewart and Tomas Cruz. The day after the final performance we enter the recording studio, and a CD of this opera will be released on New Amsterdam Records in September, 2012.
We have raised about 40% of the funding needed to make this album a reality, and are now turning to our friends and family for (tax-deductible!) support through Kickstarter. Armed with a professional recording, we will be able to share this opera with presenters, fans, family, friends and colleagues around the world. This recording will help us book future performances of the opera, and will enable us to continue creating work that takes risks and challenges the idea of what an opera can be. After five years of work, you can imagine that we would love for this opera to have a life beyond the performances at The Kitchen. We can do it with your help!
All donations are fully tax-deductible. Thank you for supporting emerging artists and new opera!
-Composer Missy Mazzoli
[The creative team is extremely fortunate to be joined by a gifted group of collaborators for the premiere production including music director Steven Osgood, set designer Zane Pihlstrom, costume designer Alixandra Englund, Lighting Designer Scott Bolmon, projection designer S. Katy Tucker, and producer Beth Morrison (Beth Morrison Projects).]
FAQ
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Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
(All donations tax-deductible!) -A special sneak preview copy (digital download) of the recording, before it's available to the public
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
(All donations tax-deductible!) A "leaked" track from the opera - hear it before the world premiere!, A special sneak preview copy (digital download) of the recording, before it's available to the public (available August 2012)
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
(All donations tax-deductible!) A CD sampler pack including Cathedral City by Victoire (Missy's band) and both of NOW Ensemble's albums (Awake, and NOW), A "leaked" track from the opera - hear it before the world premiere!, a special sneak preview copy (digital download) of the recording, before it's available to the public (available August 2012)
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
(All donations tax-deductible!) 2 complimentary tickets to the performance of your choice at the Kitchen in NYC (Feb. 24- Mar. 3, 2012), a CD sampler pack including Cathedral City by Victoire (Missy's band) and both of NOW Ensemble's albums (Awake, and NOW), a "leaked" track from the opera - hear it before the world premiere!, A special sneak preview copy (digital download) of the recording, before it's available to the public (available August 2012)
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
(All donations tax-deductible!) A copy of the score, signed by composer Missy Mazzoli, librettist Royce Vavrek, filmmaker Stephen Taylor and director Gia Forakis, 2 complimentary tickets to the performance of your choice at the Kitchen in NYC (Feb. 24- Mar. 3, 2012), a CD sampler pack including Cathedral City by Victoire (Missy's band) and both of NOW Ensemble's albums (Awake, and NOW), a "leaked" track from the opera - hear it before the world premiere!, a special sneak preview copy (digital download) of the recording, before it's available to the public (available August 2012)
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
(All donations tax-deductible!) 4 complimentary tickets to the performance of your choice at the Kitchen in NYC (Feb. 24- Mar. 3, 2012), a one of a kind original photographic print from the production (only 5 available), a copy of the score, signed by composer Missy Mazzoli, librettist Royce Vavrek, filmmaker Stephen Taylor and director Gia Forakis, a CD sampler pack including Cathedral City by Victoire (Missy's band) and both of NOW Ensemble's albums (Awake, and NOW), a "leaked" track from the opera - hear it before the world premiere!, a special sneak preview copy (digital download) of the recording, before it's available to the public (available August 2012)
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
(All donations tax-deductible!) A private house concert featuring composer Missy Mazzoli and soloist Abigail Fischer (NYC area only), 4 complimentary tickets to the performance of your choice at the Kitchen in NYC (Feb. 24- Mar. 3, 2012), a one of a kind original photographic print from the production (only 5 available), a copy of the score, signed by composer Missy Mazzoli, librettist Royce Vavrek, filmmaker Stephen Taylor and director Gia Forakis, a CD sampler pack including Cathedral City by Victoire (Missy's band) and both of NOW Ensemble's albums (Awake, and NOW), a "leaked" track from the opera - hear it before the world premiere!, a special sneak preview copy (digital download) of the recording, before it's available to the public (available August 2012)
Project By
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Composer Missy Mazzoli was recently deemed "one of the more inventive and surprising composers now working in New York" (NY Times) and "Brooklyn's post-millennial Mozart" (Time Out NY). SONG FROM THE UPROAR is part one of a trilogy of operas about fascinating women of the 20th and 21st centuries. www.missymazzoli.com
Filmmaker Stephen Taylor has been producing documentary films for the last eight years. Samples of his work are available at www.stevetaylor3000.com.
Mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer is equally expert at music from the Baroque era to contemporary works. She has performed with New York Collegium and Early Music New York, and has given world premieres of music by John Zorn, Nico Muhly, Bernard Rands and the Bang on a Can artists. www.abigailfischer.com
NOW Ensemble is a dynamic group of performers and composers dedicated to making new chamber music for the 21st century. With its unique instrumentation of flute, clarinet, piano, electric guitar and double bass, NOW Ensemble brings a fresh sound and a new perspective to the classical tradition. www.nowensemble.com
