THE ECHO DRIFT is a chamber opera for a mezzo soprano and an actor (who speaks their part).
80 minutes.
Mezzo soprano
Actor
Clarinets (dbl bass cl. One performer)
Saxophones (Alto, Tenor, Baritone. One performer)
Bassoon
Harp
Piano
Cello
Contrabass
Produced by American Opera Projects, Beth Morrison Projects and HERE Arts Center.
Commissioned by the Prototype Festival.
Premiered during the festival in 2018.
Convicted murderer Walker Loats is trapped in a timeless prison. Unexpectedly befriended by a moth with an offer of a perceived way to freedom, Walker must choose between paying her dues or taking a shortcut that offers to rig the game in her favor. Oscillating between the confines of a tiny cell and an expansive visual world of animation, The Echo Drift unravels a cycle of deceit, temptation, seduction, and fantastical perception. Featuring a live chamber ensemble, electronics, and a six-channel surround sound system, this world premiere opera explores the freewheeling nature of the mind when it is robbed of external stimuli and questions, when in extreme circumstances, is it possible to act in a way that goes against one’s nature?
The Echo Drift was originally developed by Mikael Karlsson and Elle Kunnos de Voss in a full-length workshop presented by the Embassy of Sweden in Washington DC in 2014. The Echo Drift was commissioned, developed and produced by Beth Morrison Projects, HERE, and American Opera Projects.
The Echo Drift is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
From the Prototype Festival website
MUSIC Mikael Karlsson
LIBRETTISTS Elle Kunnos de Voss & Kathryn Walat
ORCHESTRATION Mikael Karlsson & Michael P. Atkinson
DIRECTOR Mallory Catlett
ENVIRONMENT & ANIMATION DESIGNER Elle Kunnos de Voss
PROJECTION DESIGNER Simon Harding
LIGHTING DESIGNER Christopher Kuhl
COSTUME AND PROP DESIGNER Andreea Mincic
ANIMATORS Dara Hamidi & Simon Harding
WORLD PREMIERE CAST
The PROTOTYPE Festival, January 2018
SOLOISTS:
WALKER LOATS Blythe Gaissert
THE MOTH John Kelly
CONDUCTOR Nicholas DeMaison
WITH the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
PIANIST Aaron Likness
“Stark and intricate, propulsive and a little film-noir… most exciting when it is fast and cacophonous, nearly overwhelming the senses.” The New York Times
“A truly moving, dynamic piece of music theater that deserves a great deal of attention.” Opera News
“A totally original and stunning, immersive piece… with a scintillating score composed by Mikael Karlsson.” BroadwayWorld
“A startling science-fiction conceit kickstarted the gripping one-act The Echo Drift… Everything about this presentation was virtuoso.” Observer
“Seventy immersive minutes of six-channel surround sound and projected animations… The score was modest, absorbing, and lush.” I CARE IF YOU LISTEN
“The Echo Drift struck an admirable balance between evocative score and creative composition, and is easily worthy of a pure listen without the staging.” Seen and Heard International
“Nicholas DeMaison conducted with unwavering clarity… It is hard to sufficiently praise soprano Blythe Gaissert as Loats.” Musical America
