Chorus of Animals
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Chorus of Animals Cherub Choir Arden Anderson, Ezekiel Blackwell, Mae Wells Bowers, Nathan Bryan, Timothy Cole, Eliza Easterling, Mary Pinckney Easterling, Emmie Edwards, Nancy Mae Flippin, Madison Gause, Jennifer Gause, Cameron McDowell, Rachel Rogerson, Wilson Russell, Dorothy Shaver, James Wilson Primary Choir Eli Blackwell, Silas Brickey, Zephaniah Brickey, Will Bryan, Benjamin Cole, Simmons Easterling, Nick Eller, Elloree Flippin, Jack Flippin, Noah Johnson, Katy Kabakjian, Joseph Kull, Will Ridgeway, Laila Rogerson, Carly Rogerson, Solveig Rogland, Connie Anne Woodard Junior Choir Joshua Burke, Jenna Dale, Seabrook Easterling, Isabel Johnson, Naomi Kurlowich, James Newman, Jenna Potvin, Lilly Ridgeway, McCall Ridgeway, Latimer Rogland, Francesca Sneed, Isabella Sneed Youth Chorus Lilly Abernathy, Lisa Baumgartner, Ezra Blackwell, Alex Brickey, Julie-Joy Dale, Ethan Dyer, Sadie Belle Dyer, Savannah Dyer, Rebekah Hammond, Emma Lacy, Elizabeth McCoy, Elizabeth Moore, Rebekah Moore, Mary Catherine Newman, Sarah Newman, Laney Patterson, Cheyenne Ricks-Smith, Ian Shaver, Cassidy Smith, Margaret Smith Please join us for a reception in Jackson Hall following the program. Special Thanks to: Opera at USC FBN Productions, Opera for Kids Suzuki Strings at USC Josh Salonich and Specialties & Etc. Chef Richard and Kitchen Staff LeGrand Cooper Sexton Staff Courtney Trent Angie Wingard Emily Woodard Eve Huffman Jeff Francis Jenni Arthur Holly Cole Katie MacLeod Langley Shealy Laura Newman Laurie Price Rachel Hudson Rebekah Schlottman Shaun Rowland The parents of all the children involved Orchestra Solo String Quintet Ashley Horvat, violin; Damir Horvat, violin; Preston Barbare, viola; Ryan Knott, cello; Austin Gaboriau, double bass Suzuki Strings at USC Violin I Austin Huang, Aidan Montmeny, Ella Thomas, Slawka Ndubuisi, Juliet Swaim, William Wei Violin II Alice Dowdey, Jane Gagliardi, Juliet Jones, Danka Ndubuisi, Serena Parmar, Eleanor Prosser Violin III Leandra Dawson van Veen, Kyle Humphries, Sylvana Knapp, Sydney Gardner-McCrossin, Leah Monk, Madeleine Thoma Viola Tori Kabakjian, Will Lindsey, Lindsay Swaim Cello I Iestyn Dawson van Veen, Milka Ndubuisi, Alana Wilson Cello II Caroline Huang, Eliasz Ndubuisi, Mary Allison Swaim Double Bass Joe Gaskins Instructors Ms. Julia Long, violin; Ms. Emily Wait, violin; Dr. Samara Humbert-Hughes, violin/viola; Mr. Michael King, cello; Ms. Sarah Jackson, cello Piano Leonora Jeffcoat, Thomas Russell Organ Dr. William H. Bates Bugles Bruce Easterling, Leighton Gay, Jason Ortiz, Jonathan Smoak Handbell Choir Janice Edwards, Lee Hess, Susan Jennings, David Shealy, Carolyn Taylor, Jessica Wenger Recorders Jean Hein (soloist), David Kurlowich, Carol Kurlowich, Jane Nevitt Timpani Joseph Spearman Percussion JaRon Brown, Daniel Gazella, Jonathan Gilstrap, Jarrell Holliman, Davis Nickles, Noah O’Cain, Directors Conductor & Director of Youth Chorus ........................................................................................ Dr. Daniel Cole Stage Director ................................................................................................................... Ellen Douglas Schlaefer Assistant Conductor & Director of Junior and Primary Choirs .......................................................... Laura Nevitt Director of the Suzuki Strings Orchestra .................................................................. Dr. Samara Humbert-Hughes Assistant Stage Director ................................................................................................................. Brenton O’Hara Director of Cherub Choir & Director of Recorder Ensemble ............................................................... Jane Nevitt Director of Handbell Choir ................................................................................................................. Aaron Cates Production Scenic Design and Construction ........................................................................................................ Teddy Moore Sound Engineer .................................................................................................................................... Jeff Francis Graphic Designer ............................................................................................................................ Langley Shealy Headpiece Designs and Construction ............................................................................................. Angie Wingard Costume Coordinator & Designer .................................................................................................. Rachel Hudson Cast Another signpost is the overall structure of the work itself. The opera is anchored by three hymns, placed at pivotal moments in the opera–the introduction, the flood/storm, which occurs about two-thirds of the way in, and at the glorious conclusion of the work. In keeping with the spirit of the Chester play, the congregation/ The Voice of God ........................................................................................................................... Abraham Hardy audience is asked to sing, and is therefore part of the play itself. The opening hymn, Lord Jesus Think on Me, Noye ...................................................................................................................................................... Jacob Will is essentially a prologue that reveals what this opera is about. Its function is not dissimilar to the prologues of Mrs. Noye ....................................................................................................................................... Rhoda Paschal Greek tragedies or the early operas of Monteverdi. The opening congregational hymn is a prayer, an appeal to Christ to restore to us purity and innocence, a theme that dominates Britten’s vocal works. The hymn is set as Sem ................................................................................................................................................. Nathanael Cole a march in order to give the audience a sense that we are about to undergo a pilgrimage over the next hour. Ham ............................................................................................................................................... Archie Woodard Jaffett .................................................................................................................................................. Perrin Arthur The first voice (and last voice) we hear in the drama is the voice of God, a part for narrator. This voice then Mrs. Sem ........................................................................................................................................ Cambria Arthur begins to speak through and out of Noye as the directions for the ark are dictated–a brilliant theatrical display Mrs. Ham ........................................................................................................................................... Judith Shaver of the profound mystery of the inspiration of Scripture. After Noye pronounces a brief prophetic warning to turn and repent, “Have done, ye men and women all,” his sons and their wives soon appear on the scene, Mrs. Jaffett ........................................................................................................................................ Reese Hudson ready to help build the ark. Mrs. Noye and her Gossips are not so keen, and continually mock Noye as they The Raven ...................................................................................................................................... Eliza Blackwell imbibe Malmsine, a type of strong drink. (If you find this offensive, might I remind you that the Bible is filled The Dove ................................................................................................................................................. Eliza Kull with much worse illustrations of human depravity). As music historian Wilfrid Mellers points out, despite her 2 pride and stubborn resistance, “Mrs. Noye is not finally beyond redemption.” Mrs. Noye is spared, and the Gossips are drowned. Mrs. Noye’s Gossips ......................................................................... Tiffany Anderson, Mary Kathryn Davidson, Gabby Eish, Meredith Fuller, Claire Grider, Now comes the central signpost and critical event of the piece, the flood itself. Musically, the flood lasts for Isabelle Iverson, Lillian King, Libby Myers, one fifth of the entire work, and is represented by a bass passacaglia (repeated pattern) that is the crux of the Caroline Stonecypher flood music. In essence, this passacaglia is a representation of God’s divine providence and judgment– unstoppable and, at this moment, a fearful and awful thing. The instruments of the orchestra become elements Property Men ................................................................................ Jed Carlton, Jacob Cockrell, Daniel Davidson, of the storm itself: upper octaves of the piano doubled by “slung mugs” (suspended coffee mugs)–the initial Conrad Haas, Sam Newman, John Potvin, drops of rain; recorders then represent the wind, followed by thunder and lightening played by Beethoven- Chalmers Rogland esque hammer strokes in the percussion and children’s string orchestra; the wind makes another brief appearance (recorders) and then the waves begin to roll in rising, predominantly open string arpeggios. The strings, followed by another bout of wind, represent the rigging