IN a landmark collaboration, five of Colorados leading arts and cultural organizations are coming together for A Journey of the Human Spirit, Wednesday, Jan. 16 and Thursday, Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m., at DUs Newman Center of the Performing Arts.
The program presents two new works: the regional premiere of Viktor Ullmanns opera, The Emperor of Atlantis, and Garrett Ammons world premiere dance set to From Darkness to Light, an original composition by Colorado College Music Professor Ofer Ben-Amots.
Ben-Amots is an Israeli-born composer whose work is performed regularly in concert halls and festivals worldwide.
From Darkness to Light is a complex celebration of the best of humanity, and fittingly concludes A Journey of the Human Spirit on a note of light and hope.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to create a new contemporary ballet around the world premiere arrangement of this wonderful work,” said Ammon, artistic director of Ballet Nouveau Colorado.
The collaborative production began as a conversation between Colorado Public Radio classical music host Monika Vischer and Mizel Arts and Culture Center /JCC CEO Stuart Raynor, both of whom were committed to presenting music of the Holocaust and ensuring that these voices and lessons would be heard.
During the three-part evening of music and dance, attendees follow the human journey from the pre-Holocaust era, through the struggle against adversity and suffering, to an era of rebalancing and hope.
THE journey is undertaken through dance, opera and klezmer music, an Eastern European tradition celebrating life and happier times.
This klezmer music leads the audience into the opera and is heard throughout the evening, specifically in From Darkness to Light.
The opera portion of the evening features The Emperor of Atlantis, a thinly-veiled satirical opera about Hitler.
Written by Ullmann and librettist Peter Kien while they were imprisoned in Theresienstadt in 1943, the opera exposes the darkest underbelly of humanity and demonstrates humanitys suffering during the Holocaust.
Ted Huffman will direct, Zack Winokur is the choreographer, and music will be performed by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Yaacov Bergman.
Avi Avital is the mandolin soloist.
A new dance piece, integrated at the end of the opera, completes the experience. Choreographed by BNCs Ammon and set to original music by Ben-Amots, the piece combines eastern European Jewish folk themes with an uplifting modern dynamic.
This timely project provides an opportunity to honor those who have endured great struggles before us, Ammon said.
Even in the darkest of times they were able to create community through art. This is truly something to celebrate.
This collaboration is presented by Central City Opera, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Nouveau Colorado, MACC and Newman Center Presents.
Information: 303-871-7715.
