Myths and Hymns: Chapter 2 - Work

MasterVoices
Online
Concert
Location: 
https://youtu.be/UPF0IxxBIbU
Event date: 
24 Feb 2021 to 30 Jun 2021
Start Time: 
6:30pm - YouTube Premiere with Live Chat on 2/24/21
Conductor / Keynote Speaker: 
Ted Sperling, Conductor

The central project of MasterVoices’ 2020-2021 season will be a virtual rollout of award-winning composer Adam Guettel’s theatrical song cycle, Myths and Hymns, in an online staging conceived by Ted Sperling. Inspired by Greek myths and a 19th-Century Presbyterian hymnal, the 1998 cycle is a kaleidoscopic collection of musical genres as it explores the nature of faith and longing in a secular world. New short musical films will illustrate the protagonist’s attempt to seek answers in four ways – through Flight, Work, Love, and Faith. The four chapters of this personal voyage will be released in free digital installments throughout the winter and spring.

The second chapter, WORK, explores the possibility of finding fulfillment through dedication, striving, and struggle. Children of the Heavenly King/At the Sounding is a call to action creating an ebullient mood, and in contrast, Build a Bridge describes the sense of futility of attempting a bridge too difficult to cross. It is followed by the humorous back-and-forth motion of Sisyphus, who is relentlessly optimistic that he will finally succeed in pushing the rock to the top, and the chorus, which is forced to watch his vain efforts. Life is But a Dream takes “Row Your Boat” as a jumping-off point, and asks ruefully, “Is it really like the song? Do we gently row along?” The chapter ends with Every Poodle with scat lyrics and raga-inspired dance breaks, a release after all this effort.

Featured Artists:

Daniel Breaker, Manik Choksi, Anthony Roth Costanzo,  Doug Fitch, Anne Kauffman, Nicholas Phan, John Lithgow, Ted Sperling, the MasterVoices Chorus, and more artists TBA!

Watch anytime starting Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 PM EST.

After the launch, Chapter 1: FLIGHT and Chapter 2: WORK will remain available for on-demand streaming on MasterVoices YouTube channel  until June 30, 2021. There is no registration or sign up required to view the performance.

For further details visit: https://www.mastervoices.org/events/mythsandhymns-chapter2/