The Italian Academy of Columbia University Closes CRACKED ORLANDO 10/17

The Italian Academy of Columbia University presents the world premiere of Jonathan Dawe's Cracked Orlando, Dramma per Musica e Fractals. Cracked Orlando runs from October 15 - 17, 2010 at the Teatro Theatre at the Italian Academy of Columbia University, located at 1161 Amsterdam Avenue at 118th Street in NYC. All performances are at 8pm.

Jonathan Dawe, recently the youngest composer commissioned by James Levine for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has composed a new dramatic work combining sounds of the Italian Baroque with compositional workings based upon Fractal Geometry. For this work a new libretto by fractal-psychoanalyst Terry Marks-Tarlow is merged with fragments by Grazio Braccioli (1727) and re-constructed using Fibonacci growth patterns. Alastair Boag directs this chamber opera/ballet featuring countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (Orlando), soprano Mary Elizabeth Mackenzie (Angelica), mezzo-soprano Hai-Ting Chinn (Alcina) and tenor Karim Sulayman (Medoro) accompanied by the virtuosic Second Instrumental Unit led by Maestro Ryan McAdams and the innovative modern-baroque dance ensemble hybrid, Company XIV, led by dance director/choreographer Austin McCormick. Zane Pihlstrom has designed the scenography.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Reservations are recommended. Reserve by emailing rw2115@columbia.edu. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office on the night of each performance, cash only. There will be a pre-concert panel discussion entitled, "FRACTALS: A Bridge between Science and Art" on Saturday, October 16 at 7pm in the Italian Academy Library. For more information visit http://www.italianacademy.columbia.edu/events_calendar.html.

Recasting energies and sounds of the Italian Baroque, Cracked Orlando, Dramma per Musica e Fractals (2010) is a chamber opera/ballet that re-forges early eighteenth century music through compositional workings based upon fractal geometry. The affects and emotions of Love, Betrayal, and Forgiveness are augmented and intensified in this highly-mannered miniature work, running just under an hour. In keeping with these ideas, the text has been extracted from the libretto originally used by Vivaldi, and rebuilt using Fibonacci growth patterns.

Cracked Orlando, from the epic fantastic tale by Ariosto, tells the story of Orlando, who in love with Angelica, pursues her to the island of the sorcerer Alcina, only to discover that she truly loves Medoro. Trapped within Alcina's enchanted realm and distraught with profound jealousy and despair he is taken by great madness. His sickness resolves only when Alcina's power is broken, all illusions are lifted, and her lush island is revealed as the barren desert it truly is.

The youngest composer to be commissioned by James Levine, Jonathan Dawe has emerged as an exciting and original composer of the 21st century. Cited for his innovative sound, involving the recasting of early music, through compositional workings based upon fractal geometry, his music has been described as "skillful", "sparkling" (The New York Times) and "envelope-pushing" (The Boston Globe). Dawe's new orchestral work, The Flowering Arts, commissioned by James Levine and The Boston Symphony Orchestra, premiered January 2006 in four performances in Symphony Hall. Hailed as "a powerful premiere" (The Boston Globe) the work was commissioned to celebrate the Orchestra's 125th-year anniversary. For more information visit http://www.JonathanDawe.com.

Company XIV, a Black Book Magazine 'Icon Of The Future', is a non-profit mixed media dance/theater company based in Brooklyn. Founded by Artistic Director Austin McCormick in 2005, the company is contemporary, yet baroque inspired, with a mission to produce compelling theatrical dance productions that create a beautiful affecting experience. Company XIV is the resident company of 303 Bond St., a Brooklyn space converted from a tow truck warehouse to a theater. The New York Times calls Austin McCormick's work "inventive and brainy, a high-entertainment mix of music-hall, cabaret, theater and dance." For more information visit http://www.CompanyXIV.com.

 

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