FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pulldate October 10, 2008
Contact Project Manager Pike Pin
Telephone +1 (206) 920-0604
Email chairmanmin @ yahoo.com
64 OPERAS DEBUT IN WATER THIS AUGUST
(Seattle, WA) Connecting the ideas of surviving as an artist in America with living as a global citizen, composer Byron Au Yong premieres 64 portable operas inspired by the ancient Chinese text I-Ching (Book of Changes) and the environment.
Scientists and global leaders worry that the world’s future challenges revolve around water. Kidnapping Water emotionally addresses these aspects in a new way. “These Bottled Operas are meant to be carried through catastrophes. I think about straining water resources and compose songs of survival,” says Au Yong.
Opera singers and percussionists perform Au Yong’s Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas in waterways throughout the Pacific Northwest this August. The 64 mini-operas explore operatic themes in an accessible format.
By taking opera out of the opera house, the Bottled Operas connect the power and beauty of traditional operatic voices with a musical experience intimately connected to nature. The site-specific performances allow Au Yong to take his music directly to places where people interact with many forms of water, creating opportunities for audience members from all walks of life to experience heightened awareness, understanding, and awe of the powerful forces of nature and humanity in a natural environment.
Percussionists play the water found at these locations with instruments that include wood, stone, bamboo, bone, rope, hide, plants, and metal. Libretti are written by eight writers from diverse cultural and artistic traditions not often represented in opera; the 64 Bottled Operas will be anything but a traditional operatic experience.
Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas will be performed by opera singer/water percussionist duos in rivers, lakes, fountains, ravines, and other waterways as part of 4Culture’s Site-Specific Performance Network on August 4, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 26, and 28.
4Culture Site-Specific Performances are FREE to the public.
Locations include Beaver Lake Park, Cedar River Trail, Chinook Beach Park, Des Moines Marina, Echo Lake, Environmental Park, Kubota Gardens, Pritchard Beach Wetlands, Ronald Bog, Salmon Creek Ravine, Saltwater Park, Seahurst Park, and White River, just to name a few.
* * *
Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas Creative Team
Composer Byron Au Yong
Dedicated to intercultural collaboration, Au Yong creates ceremonial musical events where folk and avant-garde music combust.
Opera Singers Josie Davis, Emily Greenleaf, Jeremiah Oliver, David Stutz
Water Percussionists Stuart McLeod, Dean Moore, Benjamin Morrow, James Whetzel
Librettists Eugenie Chan (San Francisco), Bret Fetzer (Seattle), Aaron Jafferis (New Haven), Archana Kumar (Chicago), Carola Luther (Yorkshire), Caroline Murphy (New York), Vivian Umino (Los Angeles), Edisa Weeks (Brooklyn)
Production Pike Pin (Project Manager), Emily Carlsen (Costume Designer), Eric Rockey (Videographer), Ben Kasulke (Filmmaker), Jean-Stephane (Multimedia), Erica Howard (Researcher, Writer)
Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas, staged by director Bret Fetzer in the DuPen Fountain, will be at the Bumbershoot Festival of the Arts on August 29, 30, and 31. Telephone info 206 281-7788
Light/Sound Installation by Byron Au Yong and interactive media artist Randy Moss at the Jack Straw New Media Gallery from September 12 to October 10, 2008; Opening September 12, 7pm with Artist Talk September 25, 7pm. Telephone info 206 634-0919
* * *
Kidnapping Water Creative Team available for interviews and photographs.
Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas is thankful for support from the Multi-Arts Production (MAP) Fund, 4Culture’s Site-Specific Performance Network and the Jack Straw New Media Gallery Residency Program.
* * *
Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas
August to October 2008 Production Schedule
Site-Specific Performances and New Media Installation are FREE to the public, except for Bumbershoot Festival of the Arts Performances on Aug 29, 30, 31
Monday, August 04 | FREE
Bothell, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park: UW Bothell, Saltwater Park, Richmond Beach, North Lake Washington, Lake Forest Park Towne Center, Echo Lake
Performers: David Stutz and James Whetzel
Monday, August 11 | FREE
Downtown Seattle: City Hall, Washington Mutual Tower, Benaroya Hall, Occidental Park Secret Garden, Ferry Terminal, Tourist Dock, Olympic Sculpture Park, Harbor Steps
Performers: Josie Davis and Ben Morrow
Saturday, August 16 | FREE
Des Moines, Burien: Farmer’s Market at South Marin Park, Des Moines Marina, Beach Park, Seahurst Park, Eagle Landing Park, Salmon Creek Ravine
Performers: David Stutz and Stuart McLeod
Sunday, August 17 | FREE
South Seattle: Kubota Gardens, Jefferson Park, Seward Park North Beach, South Lake Washington
Performers: Emily Greenleaf and Stuart McLeod
Monday, August 18 | FREE
Renton, South Seattle: Pritchard Beach Wetlands, Atlantic Street Nursery, Chinook Beach Park, Lakewood Moorage, Lakeridge Park – Taylor Creek, Coulon Park, Cedar River Trail/Library, Piazza Park Stream & Fountain, Henry Moses Aquatic Center
Performers: Josie Davis and Dean Moore
Saturday, August 23 | FREE
Auburn, Federal Way: White River, Green River, Mary Olsen Farm Project, Environmental Park, Federal Way Community Center fountain
Performers: Jeremiah Oliver and James Whetzel
Tuesday, August 26 | FREE
Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Issaquah: Sammamish City Hall Reflection Pond, Beaver Lake Park, Pine Lake, Snoqualmie Library Water Art, Snoqualmie Falls, Issaquah Creek, Lake Sammamish
Performers: Emily Greenleaf and Dean Moore
Thursday, August 28 | FREE
Bellevue, Redmond: Carpenter Silver Thaw, Grass Lawn Park Fountain, Luke McRedmond Landing Mercer Slough, Larsen Lake, Phantom Lake, Kelsey Creek, Idyllwood Beach Park
Performers: Jeremiah Oliver and Ben Morrow
Friday/Saturday/Sunday, August 29/August 30/August 31
Seattle Center DuPen Fountain, Bumbershoot Festival of the Arts
Performers: Emily Greenleaf, Jeremiah Oliver, Stuart McLeod, Dean Moore, Ben Morrow, James Whetzel
Sound/Light Installation by composer Byron Au Yong and interactive media artist Randy Moss
Friday, September 12, 7pm Opening
Thursday, September 25, 7pm Artist Talk
Jack Straw New Media Gallery 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle 98105
# # #
