My group Cygnus Ensemble will provide musical commentary for Beckett’s powerful ghost plays, with creations by contemporary composers inspired by the plays.
All information at http://soundingbeckett.com/
SOUNDING BECKETT — a singular evening of theater and music that pairs three plays by Samuel Beckett from his “ghost period” with new works by contemporary composers written expressly in response to those plays — will be presented September 14-23 at the Classic Stage Company (136 E. 13 St.) in Manhattan.
This world-premiere production is directed by the award-winning theatre director Joy Zinoman, Founding Artistic Director of The Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. The music will be performed live by Cygnus Ensemble, William Anderson, Music Director.
Comprised of Beckett’s one-act plays “Footfalls,” “Ohio Impromptu” and “Catastrophe” — written from 1975 to 1982 in the twilight of the playwright’s career — SOUNDING BECKETT features a cast that includes the award-winning actors Philip Goodwin, Ted van Griethuysen and Holly Twyford, along with the voice of the Tony-nominated and Drama Desk and two-time Obie Award-winning actress Kathleen Chalfant.
SOUNDING BECKETT will feature performances of all three Beckett plays, each followed immediately by a live performance of a new composition, offering theater-goers the opportunity to experience Beckett’s powerful language, rhythms and imagery with a contemporary musical response. New music compositions by the composers Chester Biscardi and Laura Schwendinger (“Footfalls”), David Glaser and Laura Kaminsky (“Catastrophe”) and John Halle and Scott Johnson (“Ohio Impromptu”) will alternate during performances of the two-week run at CSC.
The music will be performed by Cygnus Ensemble members Tara Helen O’Connor (flute), James Austin Smith (oboe), Cal Wiersma (violin), Chris Gross (cello), William Anderson (guitar, mandolin) and Oren Fader (guitar).