Sacred Music In A Sacred Space And New York Opera Society Commission UPON THIS HANDFUL OF EARTH, 2/24

Inspired by "Laudato Si," Pope Francis's unprecedented 2015 encyclical about the environment, Sacred Music in a Sacred Space (SMSS), with co-producer New York Opera Society, presents "Upon this Handful of Earth," a world premiere chamber opera from Norwegian composer Gisle Kverndokk and librettist Aksel-Otto Bull. "Upon this Handful of Earth" is the centerpiece of SMSS's 2016-2017 Season and marks a rare foray for the church into commissioning with a bold, contemporary work. The opera will have its premiere on February 24, 2016 at 7pm at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (980 Park Avenue). Tickets are $25-$80; purchase at smssconcerts.org or call 212-288-2520.

"Upon this Handful of Earth" explores the intersection of faith and science through the story of six people whose lives have been irrevocably altered by environmental catastrophe. The project draws parallels between the Pope's encyclical and the texts of Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Excerpts from accounts of environmental disasters, such as Chernobyl, tsunamis, pollution, and climate change, are read throughout, grounding the opera in the present. This meditation on the environment seeks a way forward for mankind at a time when climate change is, once again, at the forefront of political debate.

Built around environmental themes, the five-part opera also explores related social issues such as labor exploitation, wealth disparity, the high cost of progress, reliance on technology, and industry.

Teilhard (1881-1955) was a central inspiration for the opera. He was a scientist, intellectual, and theologian, who studied evolution and the relationship between the material and spiritual world. He composed ecstatic, progressive writings on the environment throughout his life that were often censored by ecclesiastical authorities, leading Teilhard to become a scandalized figure. His later years were spent at St. Ignatius Loyola, where his funeral was also held.

Teilhard's "Mass on the World" informs the opera's narrative structure and excerpts from the offertory are used as dialogue throughout.

Drawn to his revelatory writings and relationship to St. Ignatius Loyola, Sacred Music in a Sacred Space sought for years to recognize Teilhard. This particular project-a rare commission that used the church for a site-specific theater piece with such a strong point of view-resonated with St. Ignatius Loyola Director of Music K. Scott Warren.

"The theme of our 2016-17 season is Sacred Ground, which implies that the physical world we inhabit also contains a dimension that is holy, and all the earth vibrates with this holiness. Upon This Handful of Earth explores our relationship with our planet, and confronts us with the indisputable fact that each decision we make has an impact on the air we breathe, the water we drink, the crops we grow, and the animals who are our sisters and brothers," said Warren. "We have reached a crucial nexus in which it is imperative that we practice loving stewardship with the Earth; to see nature not as an 'it' to be manipulated, but as a 'Thou' to be partnered with and cared for as we care for our own bodies. This is a holy calling, and one worthy of our full attention."

When approached by St. Ignatius Loyola and New York Opera Society, composer Gisle Kverndokk and librettist Aksel-Otto Bull eagerly took on the project. Their third collaboration, "Upon this Handful of Earth" is the first for which they have devised an original narrative. The story began to coalesce when they discovered text from The Vedas, ancient Sanskrit Hindu scriptures, which create a framework for mankind's relationship to the environment:

"We found this text, from Vedas Sanskrit scripture dating back to about 1500 BC, and everything fell into place," said composer and librettist Gisle Kverndokk. "Throughout time, we humans have been concerned about the environment, and we could see a thread in history-3,500 years ago until today-and make a relevant story about survival. In this concept Teilhard de Chardin was a natural and inspiring component."

About the Creative Team

Gisle Kverndokk is one of Norway's foremost composers of musical theatre. His works have been performed all over Norway and Germany, as well as Canada and the United States. His opera "Around the World in 80 Days" was commissioned for the opening of the new opera house in Oslo, and premiered there in 2010. Kverndokk has written two children's opera for New York Opera Society: "Max and Moritz" (2010) and "Supersize Girl" (2013). He also has an extensive library of symphonic works, as well as chamber, church, and film music, and has collaborated with all the major orchestras in Norway. He was educated at The Norwegian Academy of Music and The Juilliard School.

Aksel-Otto Bull is a Norwegian stage director and playwright. He has directed over 60 theatre productions in theatres all over Norway. He has been artistic director of The National Theatre in Bergen, and has for many years worked in theatre education at The Nordic Institute for Stage and Studio and The Bårdar Academy in Oslo. He is educated at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, LAMDA, and Drama Studio London. Bull and Kverndokk's first opera collaboration was "Easter," commissioned by The Bergen National Opera and premiered in 2014 at Kilden, Kristiansand, directed by Aksel-Otto Bull. Their next collaboration was the musical "Ruth Maier," commissioned by Music Theatre Forum in Oslo. It was presented at New York Theatre Barn's New Work Series 2015, in New York City.

Director Joachim Schamberger works internationally as a Stage Director and Video Designer. His productions have appeared in the United States, Germany, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Norway, Israel, Japan, and China. In addition to directing and designing, he serves as Visiting Professor of Opera at DePauw University and is frequently invited to teach at music festivals and conservatories throughout the world. Schamberger is a graduate of the Musikhochschule in Würzburg, the Merola Opera Program of the San Francisco Opera, and studied digital film production and 3-D animation at the New York Film Academy. Born in Germany, he currently lives in New York City.

Since 2011, St. Ignatius Loyola Director of Music Ministries K. Scott Warren has led a dynamic music team consisting of over 150 individuals, professional and volunteer, in providing music at approximately 400 liturgies annually. He is the principal conductor of the 19-voice professional Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola, which sings a demanding schedule of services throughout the year, with repertoire spanning Gregorian chant to 21st-century masterpieces. The choir, along with the Orchestra of St. Ignatius Loyola, form the backbone of the parish's critically acclaimed concert series, Sacred Music in a Sacred Space, whose recent performances have been lauded by the New York Times as "stirring...positively thrilling" and "broad, wide-ranging, and powerful." In addition to the vast choral spectrum presented at St. Ignatius, Mr. Warren presides over the four manual, 91-rank N. P. Mander Organ, the largest mechanical action organ in the New York metro area, and an instrument of international stature.

About Sacred Music in a Sacred Space

Sacred Music in a Sacred Space at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City is committed to presenting the finest sacred choral and organ repertoire spanning over 1,000 years of music history. Known for their artistic excellence, the renowned Choir and Orchestra of St. Ignatius Loyola present exhilarating performances of large-scale choral masterpieces as well as more intimate and reflective settings by lesser-known composers. Internationally acclaimed organists may also frequently be heard on the Church's magnificent N.P. Mander Pipe Organ, the largest tracker organ in New York City.

About New York Opera Society

New York Opera Society (NYOS) develops new audiences for opera by commissioning, creating, and finding distinctive and high-quality productions in the US and abroad. To that end, NYOS serves as a conduit to the public by disseminating important messages, musical inspiration, and seminal artistic performances via partnerships with major performance venues, corporations, nonprofits and governments. NYOS' mission supports art and artists as the greatest proponents of social change, and believes that international collaborations and new commissions reflecting contemporary themes are tantamount to society's health and survival.