University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) features the debut performance of the cinematic horror opera, Cesare, Child of Night.
On Halloween night, Oct. 31, Opera UCLA will present the world premiere of Jonathan Beard's cinematic horror opera, "Cesare, Child of Night." This one-act electroacoustic opera, based on the 1920 German silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, is a modern take on Gothic horror themes, blending cinematic storytelling with operatic tradition.
Directed by Emmy-nominated director and editor Stewart Schill, "Cesare, Child of Night" is a unique production that re-edits the original silent film footage to accompany the revised narrative. The footage is creatively intercut with fifteen original paintings by artist Sufia Sadaf, adding a visual layer to the chilling atmosphere of the opera.
The music expressions and designs in "Cesare" are woven with cinematic DNA into an adventurous orchestration, which percolates within the long and rich operatic tradition. Experimenting with unexpected acoustic instrumental combinations, such as toy piano with bass flute, plucked cello, and percussion, was fulfilling on this project.
The opera features vocal performances by Michael Dean, a professor of voice performance at the Herb Alpert School of Music, and Joanna Lynn-Jacobs. The special panel moderated by Peter Kazaras includes the composer, director, vocal performers, and the visual artist.
Recording of "Cesare, Child of Night" was done at UCLA's Recording Studio, and Jonathan Beard, the composer, expresses his gratitude to his colleagues for helping bring the opera to life. The world premiere will be held at 8 PM on Halloween night.
"Cesare, Child of Night" is a contemporary opera created by composer and librettist Derek J. Leskiw, known for his work that blends cinematic storytelling with operatic tradition. The inspiration for the opera came from librettist Michael Cramer, who loves the film and has taught it numerous times.
For more detailed information about the opera's background and storyline, consulting the opera's official website, production company releases, or recent reviews in specialized opera or horror media is recommended. This news article serves as an introduction to this exciting world premiere event.
On Halloween night, audiences can expect a blend of music and entertainment as Opera UCLA presents the world premiere of "Cesare, Child of Night," featuring an adventurous orchestration that mixes cinematic DNA with operatic tradition. The unique production, directed by Stewart Schill, re-edits silent film footage to accompany the revised narrative and is intercut with Sufia Sadaf's original paintings, adding a visual layer to the chilling atmosphere.
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