The New Works Forum is a series of sessions that offers insight, practical knowledge and networking opportunities for creators and producers of new opera and musical theater works. The opera industry continues to identify and support the creators of new works while also working to address challenges and opportunities associated with producing in the 21st century. Advance registration required. No additional fee.
1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Nurturing the Pre-commissioning Process
How can companies use their facilities and resources to help creators gain experience? Learn more about how composers, librettists and directors are developing ideas and concepts for new work before receiving a formal commission.
LAWRENCE EDELSON, artistic and general director/ producing artistic director, Opera Saratoga/American Lyric Theater;
CORI ELLISON, dramaturg;
SARAH WILLIAMS, new works administrator, Opera Philadelphia; .
2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Risky Business
Risk and failure are inherent parts of creativity. Learn how creators and producers can track progress completely and honestly throughout the development process. At what point should a work, no matter how brilliant, go no further? Find out about strategies for assessing a work in its early phases, how to best preserve the effort that went into creating it, protecting the rights of all parties and learning from the experience.
SANDRA BERNHARD, director of HGOco, Houston Grand Opera;
FLOYD ANDERSON, artist relations and planning director, Minnesota Opera.
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tragedy Is Easy; Comedy Is Hard
New works dealing with serious subject matter and socially relevant topics dominate season repertoire. But where are the contemporary comic or satirical operas in the modern canon, and why are they so difficult to create?
MARK ADAMO, composer;
MARK CAMPBELL, librettist;
PEGGY MONASTRA, artistic director, G. Schirmer/AMP;
KIM WITMAN, senior director, Wolf Trap Opera;
KAMALA SANKARAM, composer.
The New Works Forum is made possible by a generous and deeply appreciated grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
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