About this project
The life and death of Erzsébet Bathory, the "Blood Countess", has been a fascination, even an obsession, for 400 years. This project is to finish and stage "Erzsébet: The Opera" as a monodrama with chamber ensemble.
As an indirect descendant, I have a family interest in her story. In 1987 I began researching aspects of her life and death for an opera. The libretto is now finished and published, two musical sections are complete (one of which was heard in part on the Discovery Channel's "Deadly Women" feature) and the singer and instrumental musicians are committed. The website dedicated to Erzsébet: The Opera details the past 10 years of progress, with images, journals, artwork, commentary, and videos.
The opera must be finished for premiere in the 2010-11 season of the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble. Basic funding for the ensemble's regular season is already available, but support is needed for the singer, additional musicians, staging, costumes, lighting, and time to complete the remaining 40 minutes of the opera.
Your support for this project assures that it will take the stage next season. Thank you!
FAQ
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117
Backers
$8,935
pledged of $12,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on June 15, 2010.
Pledge $2 or more
Download of the premiere performance recording and your name in the concert program.
Pledge $5 or more
One official "Supporter" ticket to the premiere or first-run performance of Erzsebet, your name in the premiere concert program, and download of the premiere performance recording.
Pledge $10 or more
Two official "Supporter" tickets to the premiere or first-run performance of Erzsebet, your name(s) in the premiere concert program, and download of the premiere performance recording.
Pledge $25 or more
The Infamous level includes a copy of Kim Craft's authoritative new biography "Infamous Lady" along with two official "Supporter" tickets to the premiere or first-run performance of Erzsebet, your name(s) in the premiere concert program, and download of the premiere performance recording.
Pledge $30 or more
Published libretto to Erzsebet, with the text and photos, and autographed by the composer. This pledge also includes two tickets to the premiere or first-run performance, your name(s) in the premiere concert program, and download of the premiere performance recording.
Pledge $50 or more
Published musical score of Erzsebet, autographed by the composer. This pledge also includes two ticket to the premiere or first-run performance, your name(s) in the premiere concert program, and download of the premiere performance recording.
Pledge $100 or more
Black T-shirt with red-and-white image of the Bathory seal on one side, and "Erzsebet: The Opera" on the other, plus an autographed CD recording of the premiere. This pledge also includes two tickets to the premiere or first-run performance and your name(s) in the premiere concert program.
Pledge $500 or more
This benefactor level is a complete bundle of all the other rewards (concert tickets, your names in the program, libretto, musical score, t-shirt, CD recording) PLUS a dedication on the published score itself and in the concert program to the fifteen benefactors AND dinner with the composer and cast before the opening night performance.
Pledge $3,080 or more
Katherine Anne Porter's "French Song Book" limited edition, signed, given to me by Barbara Harrison of Harrison of Paris. Plus the t-shirt, score, etc. Last-minute reward!
Pledge $5,000 or more
There were fewer than 100 Ionic Performer Synthesizers made in the early 1970s. David Gunn and I have one each. We were going to put them on eBay, but instead we are offering them as rewards for a large pledge to "Erzsébet: The Blood Countess Opera". You'll of course get all the other rewards as part of the package, but these are so rare you may never see another one. Here's a link to my Performer Ionic page: http://maltedmedia.com/people/bathory/killer.html
Project By
Connected as Dennis Bathory-Kitsz
As part of the post-Fluxus generation of independent artists, Dennis Báthory-Kitsz composes and advocates for the presentation of nonpop—the music formerly known as classical. He has created more than 1,000 works for orchestras, sound sculptures, soloists, chamber ensembles, electronics, theater, installations, dancers, interactive multimedia, and performance events, as well as writing about music and multimedia arts. His work has been performed in 20 countries worldwide. Dennis created the We Are All Mozart ‘productivity’ project in 2007, composing 100 works in a single year, all on commission.
The music of Báthory-Kitsz includes uniquely designed electronic and acoustic instruments; computer software and hardware; synthesizers, e-boxes, electronic costumes, and the Rhythmatron; and his own extended voice performances. His lifelong nonpop advocacy has included directing the Trans/Media Arts Cooperative, Delaware Valley Festivals of the Avant-Garde, Kaxpiksu State Arts Festival, Vermont Composers Festivals, Amsterdramm, and Ought-One Festival of NonPop. He co-founded the Vermont Composers Consortium, Kalvos & Damian’s New Music Bazaar, and the NonPop International Network.
Báthory-Kitsz is a published author of several books and hundreds of articles in technology and the arts including Country Stores of Vermont, directs maltedMedia including its publisher Westleaf Edition, and is an adjunct professor of theory at Johnson State College.
