Queen of Knives
Encyclopedia
Queen of Knives is an opera
in two acts by the American composer Eric Stern. The English libretto
was written by the composer. The opera premiered in Portland, Oregon
on May 7, 2010 at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
. Noah Mickens
directed the premiere and the opera was produced by Vagabond Opera and Wanderlust Circus
.
In Portland Oregon May 7, 2010 and ran for a two week extended run, for a total of ten performances.
in the early 1960s, the opera tells the story of a brother and sister knife-throwing act
.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in two acts by the American composer Eric Stern. The English libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
was written by the composer. The opera premiered in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
on May 7, 2010 at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center is a community-based arts center located in Northeast Portland, Oregon, United States.The IFCC was founded in 1982 by Portland's first Afircan American elected official, Commissioner Charles Jordan...
. Noah Mickens
Noah Mickens
Noah Howard Mickens is an American performance artist and showman from Portland, Oregon. He is primarily known for his contributions to vaudevillian revival and as a ringmaster and master of ceremonies for several theatrical circus troupes...
directed the premiere and the opera was produced by Vagabond Opera and Wanderlust Circus
Wanderlust Circus
Wanderlust Circus is a theatrical circus troupe based in Portland, Oregon, which began in 2006 and since 2009 has had a branch in San Diego, California. The two organizations collaborate to produce shows up and down the U.S. west coast.- History :...
.
Production history
Queen of Knives premiered at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural CenterInterstate Firehouse Cultural Center
The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center is a community-based arts center located in Northeast Portland, Oregon, United States.The IFCC was founded in 1982 by Portland's first Afircan American elected official, Commissioner Charles Jordan...
In Portland Oregon May 7, 2010 and ran for a two week extended run, for a total of ten performances.
Roles and original cast
- Esmeralda: Catherine Olson
- Henry: Scott Crandal
- Chaim Meyer: Eric Stern
- Promethia: Nagasita
- Alfred: Robin Jackson
- The Blackbird Katrina: Ashia Grzesik
- The Belly Dancer: Ruby Beh/Tiffany Slottke
- Roustabouts: Xander Almeida, Rale Sidebottom, Hioka
Musical Ensemble
Musical Director: Eric Stern; Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet: Robin Jackson; Trumpet: Kate Presley; Percussion: Mark Burdon; Piano, Accordion: Eric Stern; Violin: Griff Bear;Cello: Skip Von Kuske; Bass: Matthew RotchfordSynopsis
Set in a traveling carnival in the midst of the student protests in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham campaign
The Birmingham campaign was a strategic movement organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to bring attention to the unequal treatment that black Americans endured in Birmingham, Alabama...
in the early 1960s, the opera tells the story of a brother and sister knife-throwing act
Knife throwing
Knife throwing is an art, sport, combat skill, or variously an entertainment technique, involving an artist skilled in the art of throwing knives, the weapons thrown, and a target.-A throwing knife:...
.
Sources
- D'Antoni, Vagabond Opera’s Opera: Eric Stern on ‘Queen of Knives’, Oregon Music News, May 5, 2010
- Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Queen of Knives: A Knife Throwing Bullseye Opera
- McQuillen, James, Opera review: "Portland's Vagabond Opera's 'Queen of Knives' is one sharp show", The OregonianThe OregonianThe Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
, May 11, 2010 - Oregon Music News, "Vagabond Opera announces they’re really doing an opera", March 3, 2010