Commissioned by the Rhymes With Opera New Chamber Music Workshop, 2014. Premiered at the National Opera Center in New York City on August 16th, 2014.

Soprano - Lisa Flanagan
Mezzo Soprano - Karen Hayden
Violin - Lisa Casal-Galietta
Percussion - Maiko Hosada

"Terre Haute, IN" is part of a series of works focusing on love, loss, travel, and communication in the Digimodernist age (connected to pieces like "Communiqué"). Each movement focuses on two friends, Karen and Tom, (who have struggled with their romantic feelings for each other for over five years) as they travel across the United States with a group of friends. At this moment in the story, Karen struggles with her complex feelings for Tom; should she pursue a relationship with him, or would it make more sense to keep things the way they are? While stopped at a gas station outside of Terre Haute, in the shadow of one of the state’s largest prisons, she texts her friend Lisa to ask for some advice on the matter.

During the performance, both vocalists will be using custom cellphone controllers to playback audio cues as they ” text” to one another. As the piece progresses, the layout of cue buttons on the phone screens change, allowing for the element of chance to make each performance unique. While the spoken dialogue is written by the composer, the sung text is pulled from the Federal Department of Prisons’ rules and regulations for visiting inmates.

Terre Haute, IN

Scene Excerpt from the opera Ford's Theatre

featuring 

Mezzo Soprano, Meaghan Sands
Baritone, Elliot Brown
Soprano, Kelsi Kay Folsom

Anti-Booth Orchestra
Matthew Kennedy, conductor

Terre Haute, IN

ATMarasco

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