CL Critic Kevin C. Madigan Recommends: Five teams of librettists and composers selected from this year’s 96-Hour Opera Project will present their 10-minute creations in a free showcase at Morehouse College June 12, and a winner will be declared by a panel of judges. The contestants are Jorge Sosa, Alejandra Martinez, Omar Najmi, Catherine Yu, Dave Ragland, Selda Sahin, Edward Shilts, Laura Barati, Nathan Felix and Anita Gonzalez, and one pair will be chosen to receive a $10,000 prize and an Atlanta Opera commission for a new work to be produced and performed in an upcoming season. All other participating artists are guaranteed a $1,000 honorarium. The contest caters specifically to entrants from historically underrepresented communities, and is only open to those who identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, Arab-American, Latin-American or other communities of color. “All these up-and-coming composers and librettists have unique talents and voices that we need to hear,” notesAtlanta Opera’s Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun in a press release. “Our 96-Hour Project is our way to serve the future of opera by shining a spotlight on these creators. They are inspiring us all.” — KCM
From the venue:
The Atlanta Opera presents the second annual 96-Hour Opera Project, a composition competition and showcase that pairs composers and librettists to write ten-minute operas. Bringing their completed works to Atlanta, the teams will workshop and rehearse their productions over four days from June 9 through 12, 2023. On Monday, June 12, 2023, a public performance will present the ten-minute operas at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College, and a winner is selected by a distinguished group of judges. The Atlanta Opera awards the winning team a cash prize and an Atlanta Opera commission for a new work to be produced and performed in an upcoming season.
Designed specifically for composers and librettists from historically underrepresented communities, the 96-Hour Opera Project is only open to those who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, Arab-American, Latin-American or other communities of color.
CL RECOMMENDS