presents My Friend’s Story

A Preview of a New Presented in collaboration with Yale School of Music and the Yale Office of the Provost, with the support of Yale School of Drama

COMPOSER Martin Bresick LIBRETTIST J. D. McClatchy DIRECTOR David Chambers

CONDUCTOR Julian Pellicano PRODUCER Lileana Blain-Cruz

SINGERS Ryan Allen, Claire Coolen, Jonathan Hays, Abigail Nims, & Christian Reinert

MUSICIANS Michael Compitello, Lisa Dowling, Liam Kinson, Lisa Moore, Holly Piccoli, Ashley Smith, & Jacques Lee Wood

LIGHTING DESIGNER Masha Tsimring SCENIC DESIGNER Kristen Robinson STAGE MANAGER AND COSTUME DESINGER Sara Holdren

June 19 & 20 at 8pm Iseman Theatre

Presented with support from: Copland Fund for Music The Artists

Martin Bresnick JD McClatchy David Chambers

Ryan Allen Claire Coolen Jonathan Hays

Abigail Nims Christian Reinert

2 About the Artists

MARTIN BRESNICK (Composer) DAVID CHAMBERS (Director) is a director, compositions, from chamber and writer, and producer of theatre, opera, symphonic music to film scores and and film. His stage work has been seen computer music, are performed on and off Broadway, at major regional throughout the world. Bresnick delights in theatres in the US and in Europe. He reconciling the seemingly irreconcilable, has directed numerous premieres of bringing together repetitive gestures American and European plays as well derived from minimalism with a harmonic as half the Shakespeare canon. His palette that encompasses both highly opera productions have been seen at chromatic sounds and more open, PS 122, Bard Summerscape, The Prague consonant harmonies and a raw power National Theater, and the Brooklyn reminiscent of rock. At times his musical Academy of Art (BAM). As a writer, ideas spring from hardscrabble sources, he has translated plays by Moliere and often with a very real political import. Ibsen, as well as created librettos for But his compositions never descend . In film, Chambers served as into agitprop; one gains their meaning Staging Supervisor for Robert DeNiro’s by the way the music itself unfolds, and The Good Shepherd, starring Matt always on its own terms. Besides having Damon and Angelina Jolie, and is Senior received many prizes and commissions, Producer of a television documentary the first Charles Ives Living Award from in development, Shakespeare Now. the American Academy of Arts and He has extensive interests in Russian Letters, The Rome Prize, The Berlin theater, with a concentration on Chekhov Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and and revolutionary director Vsevolod a Koussevitzky Commission, among Meyerhold. Chambers is Professor of many others, Martin Bresnick is also Directing at the Yale School of Drama. recognized as an influential teacher of composition. Students from every JULIAN PELLICANO (Conductor) is part of the globe and of virtually every quickly distinguishing himself as a musical inclination have been inspired dynamic presence on the concert stage. by his critical encouragement. Martin In September 2013 Mr. Pellicano begins Bresnick’s compositions are published an appointment as Resident Conductor by Carl Fischer Music Publishers, New with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. York; Bote & Bock, Berlin; CommonMuse During the 2012-2013 season he made Music Publishers, New Haven; and have his South American debut with the been recorded by Cantaloupe Records, Orquestra Sinfonica de Porto Alegre New World Records, Albany Records, (Brazil) and other recent appearances Bridge Records, Composers Recordings have included concerts with the Hartford Incorporated, Centaur, and Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Artifact Music. Symphony, New Britain Symphony and Boston’s Dinosaur Annex Ensemble. J. D. MCCLATCHY (Librettist) has An Artist in Residence at the Norfolk taught for many years at Yale, where Chamber Music Festival, he has been he also serves as the editor of The Yale the conductor of the Norfolk New Music Review. He has written eight volumes of Ensemble since 2008. He has worked poetry and three of prose, in addition in masterclasses with Kurt Masur, Peter to having edited dozens of other books. Eötvös, Zsolt Nagy, Martyn Brabbins, Carl His translation, Seven Mozart Librettos, St. Clair, L’Orchestre Philharmonique du appeared in 2010, and he has translated Luxembourg, the Royal Scottish National several operas for performance at the Orchestra and he holds degrees from the Metropolitan Opera. As a librettist, he Peabody Conservatory, the Royal College has written operas for William Schuman, of Music in Stockholm, Sweden and the Francis Thorne, Bruce Saylor, Tobias Yale School of Music. Picker, Lorin Maazel, Lowell Liebermann, Ned Rorem, Elliot Goldenthal, Michael Dellaira, Daron Hagen, Jeanine Tesori, and others—work that has been seen in opera houses around the world. He is a member and former president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He lives in Stonington, Connecticut. 3 About the Artists

LILEANA BLAIN-CRUZ (Producer) CLAIRE COOLEN (Hannah) Rising is a director from New York City and young Claire Coolen is a recent Miami. Recent projects include Christina graduate of the Manhattan School of Anderson’s Hollow Roots which premiered Music, where she performed Gilda in this past January in the Under the Radar Rigoletto, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Rose Festival at the Public and A Guide to in Street Scene, Nanetta in Falstaff, and Kinship and Maybe Magic, a collaboration Mrs. Winemiller in Lee Hoiby’s Summer with choreographer Isabel Lewis and and Smoke. She has also performed the playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins at Governess in Britten’s Turn of the Screw Dance New Amsterdam.She received her at the Banff Opera Theatre in Banff, MFA in directing from the Yale School Alberta. Last summer she performed of Drama, where she directed Doctor Dorinda in Handel’s Orlando with the Faustus Lights the Lights, The Taming of Siena Music Festival in Siena, Italy. She is the Shrew, Tall Skinny Cruel Cruel Boys, also a recent alumna of the Opera Studio Buffalo Maine, Cavity and Fox Play as at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia part of the Carlotta Festival of New Plays. in Rome, Italy where she studied under She was one of the Co-artistic directors Renata Scotto and performed in concert of the 2011-2012 Yale Cabaret, where she at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa directed Funnyhouse of a Negro, Vaska Cecilia. Claire is presently filming the Vaska Glöm, and SALOME. She was role of Musetta in the motion picture film an Artistic Associate of The Exchange The Bohemians, a modern adaptation of and The Orchard Project, a member of Puccini’s La Bohème. the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and (www.thebohemiansmovie.com). an Allen Lee Hughes Directing Fellow at Arena Stage. She is a graduate of JONATHAN HAYS (Narrator) In 2013, Princeton University. Lileana just directed Jonathan Hays has performed a new translation of The Bakkhai at the Carl Nielssen’s Symphony No.3 with Fisher Center of Performing Arts at Bard the Harrisburg Symphony; Bach’s Ich College and is currently working on an geh und suche mit verlangen with The adaptation of the Alejandro Jodorowsky Bach Concert Series in Baltimore, MD; film, EL TOPO as part of the NYTW Schubert’s Winterreise in recital at 2050s Fellowship. Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, and Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Memphis, TN. RYAN ALLEN (Jacob) though recognized Career highlights include performances in comic roles, is excited to undertake with the Los Angeles Opera, Washington a tragic character in My Friend’s Story. Opera, Lincoln Center Festival, Bel Canto He has also sung the pathetic Candy in at Caramoor, Opera de la Colombia, five productions of Of Mice and Men, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Mostly Mozart most recently with the Utah Opera in Festival, and Toronto Symphony, among 2011. Mr. Allen next undertakes the title many others. His recording of Jeremy role in Don Pasquale with the American Gill’s song cycle, Helian, ranked fourth Landmark Festivals in July and Don on Philadelphia City Paper’s list of Top Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the 10 Classical Albums of 2011, and the Hubbard Hall Opera Theater in August. Big Easy Foundation honored him with Earlier this year he sang another elderly their 2011 award for Best Performance bass, Simone in Gianni Schicchi with the of New Classical Music. He is on the New Jersey Verismo Opera Association. voice faculties of Dickinson College, Mr. Allen debuted with the Metropolitan Susquehanna University, and Brooklyn Opera in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg College and Conservatory of Music. For in 1993 and at Carnegie Hall in the Mozart more information, visit Requiem in 1989. The bass received www.jonathanhays.net. a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin and began ABIGAIL NIMS (Milena) Mezzo-soprano his career in California as an invitee to the Abigail Nims has established herself as San Francisco Opera’s noted a musician of integrity and versatility, Merola program. continuing to garner praise for her committed performances of repertoire spanning from the Baroque to the

4 About the Artists contemporary. Ms. Nims has appeared Michael has worked with composers as soloist with renowned orchestras David Lang, John Luther Adams, Martin such as the San Francisco Symphony, Bresnick, Helmut Lachenmann, Alejandro the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Viñao, and Marc Applebaum on premieres São Paulo Symphony, the Baltimore and performances of new works, and Symphony, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano has performed as a chamber musician Giuseppe Verdi, and Teatro Municipal of and soloist in diverse locations such as Santiago, Chile. Her opera credits include the Darmstadt Summer Course, the LA leading roles with New York City Opera, Phil’s Green Umbrella Series, the Norfolk Wexford Festival Opera, Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival, and the Kurt Opera, Atlanta Opera, Florentine Opera, Weill Festival. and Virginia Opera. She sang the role of Veruca Salt in the premier recording LISA MOORE (Piano) Australian pianist of Peter Ash’s The Golden Ticket, and Lisa Moore lives in New York City and her performance of Martin Bresnick’s New Haven where she collaborates with song cycle “Falling” is featured on the a large and diverse range of musicians composer’s album Every Thing Must and artists. Described as “brilliant and Go. Ms. Nims holds degrees from the searching” in The New York Times and Yale School of Music, Westminster Choir “New York’s queen of avant-garde piano” College, and Ohio Wesleyan University. in the New Yorker she has performed She is a member of the voice faculty at with the London Sinfonietta, Steve the University of Colorado, Boulder. Reich Ensemble, New York City Ballet, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, CHRISTIAN REINERT (Peter) Paul Dresher Double Duo, American Christian Reinert is an exciting tenor on Composers Orchestra, So Percussion and the rise in the operatic world, his voice Signal - in concert halls around the world described by the New York Times as including Carnegie Hall, La Scala and the having “an appealing smoothness and Musikverein. From 1992-2008 Moore was assurance.” Recent engagements include the (founding) pianist for the Bang On A Romeo with Livermore Valley Opera Can All-Stars (winner of Musical America’s and the Townsend Opera Players, an 2005 Ensemble of the Year Award). She appearance in concert with the Alabama won the silver medal in the 1981 Carnegie Symphony, his Carnegie Hall debut with Hall-Rockefeller International American the American Symphony Orchestra in the Music Competition. Moore has 7 solo CDs US Premiere of Mátyás Seiber’s Ulysses, (Cantaloupe and Tall Poppies) and over Rodolfo in Dicapo Opera’s La bohème, 30 collaborative discs (Sony, Nonesuch, and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with DG, CRI, BMG, New World, ABC Classics, Opera Roanoke. Upcoming he makes his Albany). For more of Moore please visit Arizona Opera debut as the Stuermann in www.lisamoore.org Der fliegende Holländer. Other highlights include Cassio in Otello with Kentucky LIAM KINSON (Clarinet) was born in Opera, Edmondo in Manon Lescaut Perth, Western Australia, in 1988, and with New Orleans Opera, and Alfredo began playing the clarinet at the age of in La traviata with Opera Birmingham. 12. He was accepted into Perth Modern In concert Mr. Reinert has performed School on a full scholarship less than Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Messa da a year later, and studied with jazz/ Requiem, Dubois’ The Seven Last Words classical clarinettist Neil Boon, who began of Christ, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, teaching him seemingly harmless but Randall’s The Peaceable Kingdom and somewhat prophetic techniques such as Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia. circular breathing and improvising. 12 years later, Liam is now studying in the MICHAEL COMPITELLO (Percussion) Contemporary Performance Program at Percussionist Michael Compitello is the Manhattan School of Music, where devoted to creating new art through these things have come in handy! He collaborations with composers, studied at the Australian National performers, actors, and artists in Academy of Music for 2 years, and was all mediums. Currently Director of the finalist in the chamber competition at Percussion Studies at Cornell University, the academy and also had the privilege of

5 About the Artists working with such musicians as Michael Candidate, Yale University, MMA and Collins and Pekka Kuusisto. He also MM Yale University, BM New England performed David Stock’s Klezmer clarinet Conservatory. Cello studies with Laurence concerto Yerusha with the orchestra of Lesser, Aldo Parisot. Mr. Wood is a Swiss the academy. Now living in Manhattan Global Artist. and studying with David Krakauer, Liam has performed at many new music venues LISA DOWLING (Double Bass) is a around the city, his most recent project Bassist, Vocalist and Improviser living in being a new ensemble called TAK, formed Brooklyn, New York. Her playing has been with friends from the contemporary described as ‘energetic and precise’ by program. He has also performed with the New York Times and ‘sublime, lovely Tactus and Ensemble Moto Perpetuo. and exotic’ by Bruce Gallanter of the He has more than a passing interest in Downtown Music Gallery. Celebrated for electronic music, and also likes to meld her energetic and refreshing approach music with dance and multimedia to to contemporary music, she has create new and interesting projects. commissioned and premiered over 15 works for Double bass. She has appeared HOLLY PICCOLI (Violin) is an Australian on stage with the Emerson Quartet, born violinist, valedictorian of the Colin Carr, Carolyn Sampson, Bang on Victorian College of the Arts Secondary A Can, and has appeared as a soloist School 2004, alumna of the Australian with TACTUS, The New York Chamber National Academy of Music 2008, and Players, the Nouveau Classical Project most recently alumna of the Yale School and has recently enjoyed solo recitals at of Music, class of 2012, graduating with the Gershwin Hotel’s Contagious Sounds highest marks in her degree and honored Series and Spectrum. She has toured at graduation as a Student Marshall. France with the Early Music Ensembles After graduating from Yale University, Les Siecles and Opera Fuoco and has Holly continued at the Yale School of participated in the Juene Atlantique Music on staff, teaching chamber music Festival (France) working with conductor performance to Yale undergraduates. Philippe Herreweghe and the Tafelmusik Holly also became a member of the Yale Baroque Institute in Toronto. In 2007 she Baroque Ensemble (YBE), performing was a sponsored artist at the Boston Early early and new music with the YBE Music Festival performing on Viola da quartet. Holly was an Australian Chamber Gamba and Double bass. In 2010 she was Orchestra(ACO) Emerging Artist of a fellow at the Bang on a Can Summer 2009. Since then, having been invited Institute at MassMoca, MA and was a to perform in the ACO, Holly has toured artist in resident at OMI 2012. Lisa is also with them on many national tours as well DJ Li’l Miss Dolemite and enjoys spinning as internationally to the USA, Europe funk, soul, jazz, afrobeat and hiphop, and Asia. Loving to travel and explore all recently completing a residency at The genres of music, Holly will strive to see Mkittrick Hotel (Sleep No More). all corners of the world and the music within it. ASHLEY SMITH (Clarinet) has performed as a soloist with several of Australia’s JACQUES LEE WOOD (Cello) Member: major orchestras. His Melbourne premiere Bachsolisten Seoul, Trinity Baroque of the Lindberg Concerto was ranked Orchestra, Grand Harmonie, and the amongst The Age’s Top 5 Classical American Baroque Orchestra. Guest Performances 2010. In 2013 Ashley member: A Far Cry, The Firebird shall perform extensively in Australia Ensemble, Bach Collegium Japan. Faculty: with the Australian String Quartet, the Korea Philharmonic Summer Research Syzygy Ensemble, as well as in recital Institute, Korea-Japan Summer Music with his duo partner, pianist Aura Go. Festival, Seoul National Symphony Internationally, Ashley has engagements Orchestra Summer Academy, Bari with Bang on a Can, the Chamber Music International Summer Music Festival Society of the Lincoln Center and the (Italy), Manchester-by-the-Sea Summer Beijing Modern Music Festival. Described Chamber Music, International Musical as ‘incandescent... a masterly display Arts Institute, Music at Eden’s Edge. DMA of skill and insight... as an apologist

6 About the Artists for contemporary music-making, you SARA HOLDREN (Stage Manager would search hard to find this young and Costume Designer) is a director, clarinettist’s equal’ (The Age), clarinettist performer, and theater maker from Ashley William Smith has emerged as Charlottesville, Virginia and a 2015 one of Australia’s most exciting young Directing MFA candidate at the Yale musicians. The current Music Council School of Drama. Her previous directing of Australia Freedman Fellow and work includes Shakespeare’s Richard ABC Symphony International Young III, As You Like It, and The Tempest, Performer Award winner, Ashley has been Peter Barnes’ Red Noses, and her own identified as a ‘rising star’ by the world’s adaptations of Leonid Andreyev’s He Who leading clarinet manufacturer and is a Gets Slapped and Shakespeare’s Henry Buffet-Crampon Artist. Ashley received IV: Parts 1 & 2.She is a 2008 graduate his Master of Music from Yale University of Yale College, where she served as in 2013, where he was awarded the the artistic director of the experimental Nyfenger Prize as the most outstanding theater ensemble the Control Group. She woodwind student. studied Acting Shakespeare at RADA and has designed costumes for such MASHA TSIMRING (Lighting) performances as Summer and Smoke by Selected credits include: American Tennessee Williams and The Matchmaker Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose (Yale by Thornton Wilder. This is her inaugural Repertory Theatre); King Richard 2, Cloud outing as a stage manager. See more of 9, Petty Harbour, , Doctor her work at saraholdren.com. Faustus Lights the Lights, The Taming of the Shrew (Yale School of Drama); SPECIAL THANKS Ain’t Gonna Make It, Cowboy Mouth, Bill and Greta Fertik for their generous Funnyhouse of a Negro, Basement Hades, contribution to the set Persona, Dorian Gray, PleasureD, (Yale Cabaret); Good Goods, Drip (Crowded Fire); Fireworks Festival (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); The Norman Conquests, Skylight (Shotgun Players); Once in A Lifetime (ACT Conservatory). Masha holds a BFA from Emerson College and a MFA from Yale School of Drama. www.mashald.com

KRISTEN ROBINSON (Scenic Designer) American Night the Ballad of Juan Jose (Yale Repertory Theatre) Richard the Second, Fox Play and The Seagull (Yale School of Drama). The Princess Play’s 2&1 (New Haven, site specific project) Small Things, The Island, Persona, Out of the Blue, Dorian Gray (Yale Cabaret); The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Rosemark’d Queen (Yale Summer Cabaret Shakespeare Festival); Pippin, Big River, Oliver!, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center); Engaged!(Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival); and Equus (New Edgecliff Theatre). She is so thankful to be working with such a team!

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