Tickets
Food and drink will be available
About the Show
The House Taken Over by composer Vasco Mendonça and librettist Sam Holcroft
An opera based on the 1946 short story by Argentine writer Julio Cortázar featuring a score by composer Vasco Mendonça. It tells the story of a brother and sister living together in their ancestral home which is being “taken over” by unknown entities. Directed by Artist-in-Residence R.B. Schlather, The House Taken Over starts in a realist manner, slowly introducing a scene in which natural laws are distorted within a unique 4-D set.
Vasco Mendoça, Composer
Etienne Siebens, Music Director
R.B. Schlather, Director
Rachel Calloway, “Sister”
Robert Mellon, “Brother”
JAX Messenger, Lighting Design
Terese Wadden, Costume Design
Anne Ford-Coates, Hair and Make Up Design
Kathleen Stakenas, Stage Manager
Nolan Robertson, Orchestra Coordinator and Co-Producer
Miriam Charney,Vocal Coach
Brian Daurelle, Rehearsal Pianist
Benjamin Grow, Music/Orchestra Prep Conductor
Nolan Robertson, Orchestra Coordinator and Co-Producer
Miriam Charney,Vocal Coach
Brian Daurelle, Rehearsal Pianist
Benjamin Grow, Music/Orchestra Prep Conductor
Commissioned by LOD muziektheater & Festival d’Aix en Provence
Opera programming at NS is supported in part by a generous gift from Alberto Cribiore.
With special thanks to the Rolex Institute
Other Fall Highlights
Sxip Shirey’s Hour of Charm
October 3, 2016 - 8:00pm An abundant night of music curated by NYC composer/sound artist Sxip Shirey featuring Basil Twist. Basil is a third generation puppeteer now living in New York. He is the sole American to graduate from the École Supérieure Nationale des Arts de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mezieres, France.
National Sawdust and Manhattan School of Music Present: The House Taken Over
October 7, 2016 - 8:00pm An opera based on the 1946 short story by Argentine writer Julio Cortázar featuring a score by composer Vasco Mendonça. It tells the story of a brother and sister living together in their ancestral home which is being "taken over" by unknown entities. Directed by Artist-in-Residence R.B. Schlather, The House Taken Over starts in a realist manner, slowly introducing a scene in which natural laws are distorted within a unique 4-D set.
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CCO Presents: Sweat by Juliet Palmer
October 26, 2016 - 8:00pm The Center for Contemporary Opera presents the world premiere ofSweat by the New Zealand-Canadian composer Juliet Palmer created with librettist Anna Chatterton. Sweat is a full-length a cappella opera composed for 5 singers and chorus. The opera is a kaleidoscope of characters and stories collected from factories around the world.
AdHoc Presents: Xylouris White
November 18, 2016 - 10:00pm When Xylouris White recorded their second album, this most intuitive and inquisitive of duos did what comes naturally to them: expanded their horizons. For George Xylouris, the Cretan lute player who partners here with the Dirty Three’s preternaturally fluent Australian drummer Jim White, one aim was to extend a core metaphor of their ruggedly visionary debut album, 2014’s Goats. “Like goats walking in the mountain” is Xylouris’ poetic analogy for their approach: “They may not know the place, but they can walk easily and take risks and feel comfortable. Really, the goats inspired us.”
Birdman Live Scoring
November 5, 2016 - 7:00pm Experience the explosive Oscar winning FILM BIRDMAN, accompanied LIVE by composer Antonio Sanchez with his Grammy Award winning score that provides the heartbeat of the film. The Oscar winner for Best Picture by maverick director Alejandro Inarritu stars Michael Keaton as a washed-up action star trying to reinvent his career as a credible actor and director on the Broadway stage. For this special performance, the film will be accompanied live by renowned jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez playing his electric, GRAMMY winning score.
Jodie Landau | You of All Things
November 19, 2016 - 10:00pm Even if, in addition to writing, playing and singing his own material, Jodie Landau had not brought on board an established producer, three other L.A.-based composers, six chamber musicians, and an entire Icelandic women's chorus, you of all things would still be a most unusual debut album.
National Sawdust and Manhattan School of Music Present: The House Taken Over
October 8, 2016 - 8:00pm An opera based on the 1946 short story by Argentine writer Julio Cortázar featuring a score by composer Vasco Mendonça. It tells the story of a brother and sister living together in their ancestral home which is being "taken over" by unknown entities. Directed by Artist-in-Residence R.B. Schlather, The House Taken Over starts in a realist manner, slowly introducing a scene in which natural laws are distorted within a unique 4-D set.
