Umbra

umbra, ae, f. — shade, shadow, (pl) underworld

You probably know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice: how the bard—whose song could move beasts, trees, and stones—descended to the underworld to resurrect his wife; how his wish was granted on one condition: that he not look back at her on their ascent to the living world; how he turned around and how she died again.

But do you know what happens next?

Umbra begins here, when Orpheus emerges from the underworld alone. He wanders, feral and lost. After a mourning-silence, Orpheus returns to song—retuned and cast in “umbra,” that in-between space that is neither light nor darkness. He sings of love and death—reflections of his own story, as he moves out of grief’s vortex. Finally accepting that he cannot sing Eurydice back to life, he sings himself to death. Under the spell of Orpheus’ songs, the Bacchae emerge from the woods and dismember him. As a shadow, he finds Eurydice again and they gaze upon each other, unconditionally.

Exploring grief as a metamorphic force, Umbra asks the question: how does grief transform (us)?

Created and composed by Elliot Menard, Umbra is written for treble vocal ensemble, cello, flute, and electronics, with a libretto constructed from Ovid’s Latin Metamorphoses, personal memory, and original poetry.

Umbra is developed in collaboration with and directed by Héctor Alvarez. This staged workshop production also features the work of music director Daniel Newman-Lessler, associate director and producer Rory James Leech, costume designer Ashley Snyder, assistant costume designer Nishtha Tyagi, lighting designer Claire Chrzan, and performers Nelle Anderson, Isabel Springer, Carmen Edano, Shannon Delijani, Karolina Kwasniak, Livia Reiner, Emma-rose Bauman, and Marly Gonzalez.

Read more about Umbra here.

LEAD ARTISTS:

Elliot Menard (creator/composer/performer) is an opera-maker, performer-composer, and producer working at the nexus of opera-theater, new music, and experimental performance. Seeking wonder, discovery, and new perspectives, she is dedicated to exploring opera’s many forms. @elliotmenard / elliotmenard.com

Héctor Alvarez (director) is an interdisciplinary artist working in performance, theater, film, and opera. He is committed to crafting shared experiences that bring both his audience and collaborators into contact with something luminous and mysterious. @hektorakos / hector-alvarez.squarespace.com

COLLABORATORS:

Daniel Newman-Lessler (music director) is a composer, pianist, singer, conductor, instrument builder, and sonic researcher focused on: 1) Megaphones as Musical Instruments; 2) Musical Playgrounds & Architectural Instrument Building and 3) The Works of M A Harms Viewed Through the Lens of Mikhail Bakhtin’s “Carnivalesque.” @i.r.dnl / danielnewmanlessler.com

Rory James Leech (associate director & producer) is a theatermaker and creative from the UK. He is dedicated to presenting non-traditional performances in a variety of mediums, genres, and scales. @roryjamesleech / roryjamesleechcreative.cargo.site

Ashley Kae Snyder (costume designer) is a costume designer interested in gender expression through dress, character development in tiny details, and collaborating to create surrealistic worlds. ashleykaesnyder.com

Nishtha Tyagi (assistant costume designer) is a costume designer with a background in fashion who wants to bring authenticity and depth to the characters with the use of textile and construction. www.nishthatyagidesign.com

Claire Chrzan (lighting designer) is a lighting designer whose approach to design is rooted in the belief that the lighting should be in conversation with performers. Her designs move in tandem with the actors as another voice, breathing life into the story.

Nelle J. Anderson (performer) is a soprano, composer, and interdisciplinary-improviser who seeks the nexus of opera, pop, and Fluxus. She facilitates Reiki healings and generates art-pop as Soubrette. www.nellejanderson.com / @soubrettemusick

Isabel Springer (performer) is a nomadic American-German soprano, dancer, and actress pursuing a versatile range of musical styles and repertoire. isabelspringer.com / @isabel.springer.soprano

Carmen Edano (performer) is a versatile mezzo-soprano. She sings with Los Angeles Master Chorale, performs in various opera-theater projects around town, and teaches voice at Windward. @carmen.edano

Shannon Delijani (performer) is a mezzo-soprano, multi-media director, and creative producer based in Los Angeles. @shannondelijani

Karolina Kwaśniak (performer) is a Polish actress working in the field of theater, film, and movement. She strives to create relatable and complex characters in every project she works on. karolinakwasniak.com

Livia Reiner (performer) is a singer-songwriter and performance artist based in Los Angeles. @superfabred

Emma-rose Bauman (performer) is a freelancing flutist, woodwind multi-instrumentalist, and interdisciplinary performance artist exploring textures of whimsy, ghosts, desperation, and ritual in their art. roseflute.com / @foolish.fife

Marly Gonzalez (performer) is a New York based cellist and composer, utilizing experimental and electroacoustic music techniques in music across genres. marlygonzalezcello.com

Benny Pitt (dramaturg) is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist who creates spaces that facilitate unexpected, layered, and thought-provoking storytelling. bennypitt.com