Opera-Making
As a multi-cultural art form, opera allows participants and audiences to imagine others’ stories and worlds, without the expense of travelling. Our productions help build community spirit and reach large audiences that may not have experienced opera or classical music before. We bring together creative and positive efforts, to develop friendships, find common ground and instil trust in our musicians and audience members.
Our productions directly invest in the Kinshasa community by hiring talented Congolese musicians and training local artisans and crew. We also commission playwrights, composers and librettists to create new works, which are typically inspired by local stories or myths to ensure our productions are accessible and relatable to our audiences. Alongside new works, we also curate and adapt more popular operas that are arranged with smaller ensembles.
Operanauts Fête for Young Musicians in Kinshasa
Operanauts hosted a screening of a one act opera for young musicians and choir members in Kinshasa. The video montage by Joslin Lebela documents the highlights.
The purpose of the event was to inspire and provide the opportunity for youth to make music for each other, to see the opera stream together, and bring in the New Year with a music celebration of hope. The event was a music meeting place, a space of community and togetherness for young musicians during these difficult times of scarcity and isolation.
Amahl and the Night Visitors
MUSIC BY GIAN CARLO MENOTTI
By arrangement with G Schirmer Inc publisher and copyright owner (World).
To celebrate the season of giving during December 2020, we chose an opera that illuminates the difference between scarcity giving and blessed giving, with the timely message that all giving is good – and now more than ever do we need to recognize the importance of giving and take action.
Our urgent fundraising effort will help young musicians and singers in Kinshasa who are living in scarcity during the COVID-19 pandemic and will contribute to the commissioning of a brand new children’s opera from Congo to continue our Opera-Making Program initiative.
As much as we would have loved to perform in-person, to protect the health and safety of our staff, artists and guests like you, we pivoted to a virtual event celebrating the resilience and generosity of the loyal patrons who support us.
Our virtual opera event Amahl and the Night Visitors, filmed at the Pettoranello Gardens Amphitheatre, Princeton was available to stream via YouTube throughout December for you and your loved ones to enjoy.
CAST
Amahl Janki Namboodiripad
Mother Molly Burke
King Balthazar Martin Hargrove
King Melchior Brian Ming Chu
King Kaspar Kevin Courtemanche
Page Theo Trevisan
Pianist Akiko Hosaki
Pianist Julia Hanna
CREATIVE TEAM
Theatre Director Rose Freeman
Music Director Akiko Hosaki
Creative Director Joy Bechtler
Artist Manager Emily Bryne
Costume Designer Anne Steel
Poster Artwork Designers Marshall Light Studio
Choreographer Jody Anderson
Audio Engineer Tom Tierney
Mix Engineer Dru Cyler
Playback Audio Editor Nick Karalexis
Luba: Creation Myth from Congo
MUSIC BY CRAIG LEVESQUE & HERITIER MAYIMBI
ARRANGED BY CRAIG LEVESQUE
LIBRETTO BY (TBA) bassed on “Mutshima” a 10-minute play
This is a compelling exploration of the Congolese creation myth, masterfully adapted from a 10-minute play written by Congolese playwright, Vatick Vanza. This project aims to create a working performance of a chamber opera with instrumental accompaniment. The project will involve a series of critical activities, each of which plays a crucial role in the development of the chamber opera.
Fandango!
MUSIC BY MOZART
ARRANGED BY CRAIG LEVESQUE
This is a story about love, marriage, the rights of the lord of the house and how this combination plays out for a wedding in a Spanish villa. Cherubino, the endearing hero finds himself in the middle of the chaos. He narrates the story for the wedding guests who have just arrived.
The beautiful bride Susanna and her attentive groom, Figaro, are about to be wed. As the opera opens they sing of how they will arrange their rooms after the wedding. It soon becomes painfully obvious that Cherubino’s uncle, the lord of the house and Figaro’s master from the old country, plans to seduce Figaro’s bride after the wedding according to some medieval custom.
Outwitting the Count, the bride Susanna suggests to the Count’s wife, the Countess, that she dress like a bride and use the darkness of the garden to fool the Count into thinking she is Susanna. All goes well until Figaro also mistakes the Countess for Susanna. Luckily, Susanna is there too, hiding in the darkness, and reaches out to comfort Figaro.
The Count sees Susanna and realizes that he has been tricked. Comparing the Count to a bull, Cherubino laughs that he is the matador who has exposed the bull’s weakness and injury. The Count asks for forgiveness, and the Countess forgives him. Figaro and Susanna are now happily married. Finally, all sing to invite their guests to a celebration.
CAST
Cherubino Emily Bryne
Figaro Martin Hargrove
Susanna Tracy Sturgis
Count Brian Ming Chu
Countess Joy Bechtler
Brides’ maids Monmouth Junction Elementary School Girl’s Chorus
PRODUCTION / CREATIVE
Book by Jane McClarey Oakley & Joy Bechtler
Artistic Director Martin Hargrove
Conductor Jared Judge
Maitre d’ Dana Lichtstrahl
Wrangler Joan Mattaliano
Executive Producer Joy Bechtler
Lyrics Lorenzo da Ponte
ENSEMBLE
Flute Katherine McClure
Clarinet Kenneth J. Ellison
Bassoon Christopher Wickham
Oboe Leslie d’Auguste
Horn Craig Levesque
Marimba Jared Judge
Sheet music for the arias from Fandango! are available to purchase
La Petite Carmen
MUSIC BY BIZET
ARRANGED BY CRAIG LEVESQUE
Operanauts will perform La Petite Carmen; its own adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen arranged to underscore the senselessness of violence. In creating La Petite Carmen, Joy Bechtler looked back on her upbringing in Congo and forward to what would be accepted by Congolese audiences and artists today as she arranged an OPERA that would appeal to audiences in Congo and would bridge Congolese culture and the cultures of the Western World in order to promote understanding and awarenes among a global audience.
Music is a large part of Congolese culture and the opera form, though not traditionally performed in Congo, is closely related to the national consciousness. Similarly, the staging of the opera was planned with the resources and setting of the Congo in mind. The setting evokes an urban area in Congo, and was constructed in such a way that it could be adapted or re-created throughout Congo using what communities have available.
The costumes will be used on the Congolese tour. Seamstresses in Kinshasa hand-made the fabrics and international fashion designer Aruna Arya used the fabrics to create the costumes. Throughout the production, please notice the Africa-inspired choreography by award-winning choreographer Aya Shabu.
La Petite Carmen builds community and bridges cultures. Enjoy the show!
CAST
Carmen Catherine Anne Daniel
José Tod Kowallis
Escamillo Martin Hargrove
Micaëla Joy Bechtler
PRODUCTION / CREATIVE
Composer/Arranger Craig Levesque
Librettist Meilhac & Halévy
Director Darcia Parada & Todd Reichart
Lighting Designer Tyler Learned
Choreographer Aya Shabu
Costume Fashion Designer Aruna Arya
Creative Producer Joy Bechtler
Dancer Aya Shabu
ENSEMBLE
Pianist/Conductor Louis Menendez
Cello Adrian Daurov
Clarinet Kenneth Ellison
Violin Garry Ianco
Flute Katherine McClure
French Horn Dan Wions
Sheet music for the arias from La Petite Carmen are available to purchase
Support our mission
Operanauts relies on the kindness and generosity of donations to make our work in Kinshasa possible. Your contribution will directly benefit Congolese musicians and young people that we work with in Kinshasa and will help to rebuild a community that has witnessed years of conflict and trauma through the healing powers of music.
Make a donation to support Operanauts