៚douleur pour ✦ tous ✦ les prisonniers

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Clockwise

A 17-minute extract from my opera 'Returns' performed at Rough for Opera at the Cockpit Theatre, London, in 2016. The opera tells the story of a traumatised army veteran who is trying to piece together his memories: it is based on the real-life experiences and writing of Joshua Casteel (1979-2012), a US army veteran who served in Iraq and later became a peace campaigner. It is a plea for compassion and understanding between nations, as well as greater respect for issues relating to PTSD.

This extract features: Teit Kanstrup (bass), CN Lester (mezzo), James Cave (countertenor), Jon Brigg (conductor) and members of the Returns Ensemble. Production was by Abigail Toland (Second Movement). A full-length version of the work with direction by Rosalind Parker, design by Anthony Lamble, and with David Valsimidis is currently in development with performances - hopefully! - in 2023 and 2024. The project has received support from Hinrichsen Foundation, AHRC, Mahler and Lewitt, YuFund, and Sir Jack Lyons Charitable Trust, and was developed in conjunction with Joshua Casteel Foundation. You can read more about Joshua's life and work here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/priest-abu-grahib-180971013/#:~:text=Casteel%20stood%206%2Dfoot%2D1,Abu%20Ghraib%20shocked%20the%20world.

And https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Casteel

Returns - an opera based on the play by Joshua Casteel (extract)

https://northfield-lenox.com

To the railway station crowd, mom
Feel the decay from the years
somehow
Steel a glance to see your son’s dour eyes
Final call
To leave it all ashore
To the railway station crowd, mom
To the railway station crowd, mom

To the Railway Station Crowd Mom

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It was an unorthodox gig, representative of the uniqueness of the event, members of the orchestra wore casual wear.
The young, prodigious, multi-instrumentalist, Maestro Brian O. Kepher was the conductor for the first session.
The ghetto classics orchestra started the show with Hans Zimmer – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘What a wonderful world’, by Louis Armstrong, an electrifying performance of ‘Happy’, by Pharell Williams and a rendition of Oliver Mtukudzi’s – ‘Todii’.
They continued to wow us with their performance of ‘Sukari’ by Juma Tutu, which featured an astounding solo on the trombones. It is amazing that his younger brother Daniel Ochieng Kepher is is among the promising trombone player who also audition for the Safaricom Youth Orchestra.

Ghetto Classics  Orchestra Conducted By Brian O. Kepher

(Artwork is by Milan Ivanic - ivanic.uk)

Composer/singer/ based in York, UK. Passionate about new music and collaborative projects

Returns - an opera based on the play by Joshua Casteel (extract)

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