(Photo credit: Jiyang Chen) In celebration of its 25th anniversary Music of Remembrance will give the world premiere of “Before It All Goes Dark,” a new opera by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer. The creative team based the opera on “Mac’s Journey,” the true story of Gerald “Mac” McDonald, a gravely ill and deeply troubled Vietnam War veteran, which was {…}
The board of Seattle-based Music of Remembrance has announced legal professional and longtime human rights advocate Lorri Staal as the performing arts organization’s Executive Director. Staal joins MOR President and Founding Artistic Director Mina Miller to work with the organization. In a statement, Staal said, “I believe music is a cross-cultural unifying force, and I am honored to join MOR {…}
The story of Nika Shakarami’s story has inspired a new musical work, written by the Iranian American creative team of composer Sahba Aminikia and librettist Zara Houshmand. “Phoenix,” (or “Qaqnus” in Persian) receives its world premiere on March 10 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. On Sept. 20, 2022, 16-year-old Nika Shakarami joined other Iranian girls and citizens in protesting the {…}
(Credit: Frances Marshall ) Music of Remembrance has received a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for its production of “Before It All Goes Dark.” The grant will support the commission, tour, and recording of the new opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer. “Before It All Goes Dark” is set to world premiere {…}
Seattle, Washington-based Music of Remembrance (MOR) has unveiled its 2023-24 season, which remembers the victims of the Holocaust, and explores cultural vandalism with Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s new opera “Before it All Goes Dark.” For this article, only vocal performances are listed. MOR brings together three community organizations: University of Washington Chamber Orchestra, Northwest Boychoir, and Seattle Girls Choir {…}
Music of Remembrance is set to tour Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s double bill throughout the U.S. this Spring. “Another Sunrise” and “For a Look or a Touch” will get performances in Seattle, San Francisco, and Chicago throughout May. First up is a stop at Benaroya Hall in Seattle on May 21. That will be followed up by a performance {…}
Music of Remembrance has started streaming Lori Laitman’s “Wertheim Park” as part of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The video showcases the work’s world premiere on Oct. 30, 2022 at Benaroya Hall. It features soprano Alisa Jordheim as the soloist as well as an instrumental ensemble featureing Laura De Luca (clarinet), Mikhail Shmidt (violin), Jonathan Green (double bass), and Mina Miller {…}
Music of Remembrance has announced its 2022-23 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances. First up is “Josephine,” a Monodrama by Tom Cipullo starring Laquita Mitchell. It will be directed by Erich Parce and conducted by Geoffrey Larson. The showcase will also be paired with “Wertheim Park,” a work by {…}
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Music of Remembrance is set to stream its production of “Tres Minutos.” The one-act opera by Mexican-American composer Nicolas Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch tells the story of Nila and her brother Diego who are separated at the U.S. border and must contend with questions of identity and belonging. “’Tres minutos’ comes at a {…}
Music of Remembrance returns to Benaroya Hall, to give its second live concert of the season, entitled “Stormy Seas.” The showcase, set for March 13, 2022 will honor all people excluded or persecuted, because of their faith, nationality, ethnicity, and gender. It is the first public performance of the Iranian-American composer Sahba Aminikia’s eponymous work “Stormy Seas,” which spotlights five {…}
Seattle-based Music of Remembrance has announced its 2021-22 season. The season’s main theme will be “Power of Perseverance,” in honor of the challenging times we live in. “The pandemic forces us to summon our deepest resources so that we can continue a journey of courage and commitment,” said Artistic Director Mina Miller in a press release. “Our season’s theme is {…}