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Houston Grand Opera's HGOco Presents the World Premiere of Gregory Spears's O Columbia

Sep. 02, 2015

Houston Grand Opera's HGOco Presents the World Premiere of Gregory Spears's <em>O Columbia</em>

On September 23, the Houston Grand Opera presents the world premiere of Gregory Spears’s new opera-oratorio O Columbia as part of its HGOco community initiative program. The production features direction by Kevin Newbury and is conducted by Timothy Myers, with a cast including soprano Pureum Jo, baritone Ben Edquist and mezzo-soprano Megan Samarin.

O Columbia, with an original libretto by Royce Vavrek, is a celebration of exploration and a reflection upon the risks of discovering new frontiers. Through the work’s three parts we ride with Sir Walter Raleigh and a mysterious figure on the bow of his ship heading for the New World; sit with a teenager as she experiences communion, and later, heartbreak, with a Columbia space shuttle astronaut gliding around the earth; and travel with three astronauts to the far reaches of the solar system with Lady Columbia waiting at the edge. O Columbia is a celebration of the identity of the American frontiersperson and an ode to America’s national mythology.

The premiere takes place at the Revention Music Center in Houston, TX with a repeat performance on September 24.

Details on the premiere can be found at houstongrandopera.org.

For more information on Gregory Spears, visit schott-music.com.

Gregory Spears
O Columbia (2015)
an opera-oratorio in three parts
libretto (Eng) by Royce Vavrek
for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone and mixed adult chamber choir (min 2.2.2.2)
2ob-str(min 3.3.2.2.1)
70’

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