Opera Philadelphia

Let Me Die

World Premiere
From the mind of Joseph Keckler
Performed in English and other languages with English supertitles
Part of Festival O19

Joseph Keckler brings his rich voice and vision to this world premiere, which combines death sequences drawn from the canon of tragic opera, along with original narratives and music. Absurd yet affecting, this ensemble performance collage is at once a festive meditation, strange ritual, and morbid medley of epic proportions. Using fragmentation as a poetic strategy, Let Me Die borrows its title from “Lasciatemi morire,” the Monteverdi aria which is itself a fragment—a death song from a lost opera.

 

Presented in partnership with FringeArts as part of the 2019 Fringe Festival

Major support for Let Me Die has been provided by the William Penn Foundation

Let Me Die is a project of Creative Capital and was developed in part during a Roman J. Witt Artist Residency at The University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, with a work-in-progress preview at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Let Me Die was also developed in part during a residency at Baryshnikov Arts Center, New York, NY and, in part, with assistance from the Orchard Project (www.orchardproject.com, Ari Edelson, Artistic Director) and by Camp Fringe 2017 at FringeArts, Philadelphia. The project also benefited from residencies at Yaddo and MacDowell.

MapFringeArts

Dates are Sept. 2019.

Sat, Sep 21 8:00 p.m.
Sun, Sep 22 8:00 p.m.
Wed, Sep 25 8:00 p.m.
Thu, Sep 26 8:00 p.m.
Fri, Sep 27 8:00 p.m.
Sat, Sep 28 8:00 p.m.

Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission

Cast & Creative Team

Joseph Keckler
Joseph Keckler *Creator
Elizabeth Gimbel
Elizabeth Gimbel *Director & Dramaturge
Veronica Chapman-Smith
Veronica Chapman-SmithSoprano
Augustine Mercante
Augustine Mercante *Countertenor
Natalie Levin
Natalie Levin *Mezzo-soprano
Saori Tsukada
Saori Tsukada *Dancer & Actor
William Kim
William Kim *Piano
Lavinia Pavlish
Lavinia Pavlish *Violin
  • Matthew Dean Marsh * Arranger
  • Evelyn Shuker * Lighting Design
  • Diego Montoya * Costume Designer
  • Isaac Levine * Sound Design
  • Lianne Arnold * Video Designer
  • *Opera Philadelphia debut
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