Tribeca New Music presents a concert reading of Returning: The Ordeal of Olive Oatman, a new 90-minute opera in three acts. Based on the true story of a Mormon girl taken captive by Native Americans, the drama takes place in the Southwestern USA in 1851. The score is by Edmund Cionek, libretto by Maryanne Bertollo, musical director is Gerald Steichen, stage direction by Jessica Medoff.
See INTERVIEW with the composer and librettist below.
Synopsis: The opera depicts the struggles of Olive Oatman (Natalie Ballenger) once she is returned to white society. Encouraged by charismatic charlatan Reverend Royal B. Stratton (Markel Reed) and her brother Lorenzo (Edward Washington II), Olive tours America speaking of her time as an adopted daughter of the Mohave. But are her words her own? Olive must learn to regain her true voice, and heal the fractures in her soul, as she goes from popular concert speaker to wife of respected rancher John Brant Fairchild (Christopher Job). Only when she is reunited with the Mohave Chief who acted as her father does Olive have the courage to reclaim what her heart truly values. Along her life's journey she is helped by down-to-earth madam and feminist Sarah Bowman, aka "The Great Western" (Jeanette Blakeney). The haunting score combines Western music inspired by the period, with Native American influences.
About the Artists
Returning: The Ordeal of Olive Oatman is the second collaboration of composer Edmund Cionek and librettist Maryanne Bertollo. Their first opera, Elizabeth Frankenstein, was also produced by Tribeca New Music with a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts at the cell theatre, NYC.
Edmund Cionek’s (Composer) theatrical works have been seen at Mabou Mines, The FringefestNYC, the Flea Theatre, and the cell theatre. He writes concert music, arranges and orchestrates music on demand, and teaches at NYU. “A first-rate, witty composer,” William Bolcom; “evocative music,” The New York Times. www.edmundcionek.com/
Maryanne Bertollo (Librettist) is a graduate of Bennington College, where she studied under Frank McCourt. She enjoys writing novels based on the lives of 19th-century women, some of which she has self-published under the pen name Annabelle Troy. https://cicily17.wordpress.com/tag/annabelle-troy/
Gerald Steichen (Music Director/Pianist) has conducted the Boston Pops and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and performed at New York City’s Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. “One of America’s most versatile conductors,” Broadway World; “He is an engaging presence,” Detroit News. https://geraldsteichen.com/
Jessica Medoff (Stage Director) is a versatile artist: director, soprano, screen and stage actress. She has appeared at the Utah Festival Opera, The Princeton Festival, Carnegie Hall, and the Aspen and Breckenridge Music Festivals. [Medoff] “Skillfully employs her trademark vocal versatility to wring out every drop of emotion,” Harold Journal. https://www.jessicamedoff.com/
Natalie Ballenger (Olive Oatman) has traveled the world performing works from musical theater to opera. Highlights include: Maria in the world tour of West Side Story, New York City Opera, and soloist (Lincoln Center, Symphony Space). She recently performed Nellie Forbush in South Pacific at Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas. http://www.natalieballenger.com/
Jeanette Blakeney (Great Western) From Bizet to Broadway, she has been hailed as a gifted singer-actor of great depth. She has graced the stages of New York City Opera, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, and The Kennedy Center as well as numerous prestigious international venues. “…a bravura performance with warm singing and intense acting” (La Voix Humaine), Opera News. https://www.jeanetteblakeney.com
Markel Reed (Reverend Royal Stratton) Baritone Markel Reed has recently appeared in multiple productions at The Metropolitan Opera including Fire Shut Up in My Bones, in which he created the role of Chester. He also makes his house debut with Virginia Opera as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia this fall. www.markelreed.com
Christopher Job (John Brant Fairchild) A house favorite at The Metropolitan Opera, he has been featured in ten Live in HD broadcasts; currently he is appearing in Dead Man Walking, with performances in, among others, Tosca, Rigoletto, Madama Butterfly, Medea, Werther, Macbeth, Don Carlos, and Der Rosenkavalier. “Commanding sonority,” Opera News. www.christopherjob.com
Edward Washington II (Lorenzo Oatman) has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Orlando Opera, Central Florida Lyric Opera, Opera Omaha, Detroit Opera, International Festival of the Voice, and New York City Opera. This ΦΜΑ member is committed to advancing music in America. https://www.edward2know.com/
Chorus (soldiers, buskers, ranch hands, Washington, D.C. aides):
Daniel Lopez is a singer, actor, writer, and guitarist. Select credits include, in TV/film: Blue Bloods (CBS), FBI (CBS); opera: Alfredo in La Traviata and Tamino in The Magic Flute; theater: Tony in West Side Story, Lancelot in Camelot, and Into the Woods at The Hollywood Bowl. His former band, The Opera Men, was featured on DECCA's Disney Goes Classical album, which premiered #1 on the classical billboard. https://www.daniellopezactor.com, Instagram: @realdaniellopez
Kyle Torrence is an American baritone who has sung with the Cherry Grove Arts Project's Over the Piano and with The Light Opera of New Jersey, where he was cast as Maximilian in Candide. At The Connecticut Concert Opera he has performed in Lakme as Hadji and Trio Baritone in Trouble in Tahiti. @kyletorrence
Charles David Carter has performed in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s critically acclaimed production of Showboat, Live from Lincoln Center’s Porgy and Bess, and appeared with Jessye Norman at Carnegie Hall for Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts. His classical and gospel musical pursuits have taken him around the world. https://www.operabase.com/artists/charles-david-carter-2180053/