European American Music Distributors Company is a member of the Schott Music Group

Opera America's "New Works Sampler" to Feature Excerpts from Tobias Picker's An American Tragedy

May. 01, 2006

Tobias PickerAt this year's OPERA America conference in Seattle, the Seattle Public Library and OPERA America have joined forces to present this year's New Works Sampler, taking place on Friday, May 5 at noon. Artists from the Portland and Tacoma Operas will present excerpts from Tobias Picker's An American Tragedy which had its world premiere at The Metropolitan Opera in December 2005, conducted by James Conlon. An American Tragedy, Picker's fourth opera, has a libretto by Gene Scheer and is based on Theodore Dreiser’s novel of the same title. Excerpts will include arias, duets and trios for the lead characters Clyde Griffiths (baritone), Roberta Alden (soprano), and Sondra Finchley (mezzo-soprano), roles created by Nathan Gunn, Patricia Racette and Susan Graham. "Tobias Picker is very much a man of the theater," commented Classics Today following the world premiere in December. "An American Tragedy deserves to find a comfort­able place in the permanent repertory. From the opening sweep of the orchestra it has a grandeur that is cinematic."

The New Works Sampler will also feature excerpts from four other works by Michael Dellaira, Thomas Pasatieri, Joel Feigin, and Ramona Luengen, either recently premiered or in the workshop phase of production. Please attend if you find yourself in Seattle at that time and join us for informal drinks and snacks afterward at Seattle Westin. Look for us, Keith Philpott and Norman Ryan after the performance. We'll be donning our lovely OPERA America name badges. See you in Seattle!

To learn more about Tobias Picker and his works, please visit www.schott-music.com.

News