Opera allows for a fantastical experience in which anything and everything is possible. Music, however, provides a unique opportunity to embody such temporal and physical fluctuations. “While it sticks to two of the Aristotelian unities for drama (it has one main plot and takes place within twenty-four hours),” explains librettist Tony Asaro, “ The Halloween Tree disposes of the third unity, one physical location, in a daring manner by traveling through space and time. One could make a case that heightened reality works more successfully through music and is, therefore, perfect for the highest form of musical storytelling that is opera. From Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel to Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors and Wuorinen’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories, phantasmagorical adventures have sprouted from regular lifestyles, transporting the audience, along with the characters, into the wild world of imagination. It is right at this intersection, where everyday reality morphs into a supernatural adventure, that most successful family operas live.

A spoonful of mystery and a carefully-measured cup of magic are the last ingredients that make this story universally exciting. InsightALT 2020 A Weekend Festival Of New Works In Progressįrom Egypt to Mexico, from prehistory to modern day, the epic journey the boys in The Halloween Tree undertake in their search for their friend Pipkin manages to combine the light humor of Alice in Wonderland with the adventurous narrative of the Odyssey and the moral underpinning of A Christmas Carol. This opera is currently being developed under the auspices of American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program. After two piano-vocal workshops, we are thrilled to invite you to join us to explore the magical worlds of Ancient Egypt, Medieval France, and the mystical Mexican “Dia de los Muertos” in Theo Popov’s technicolor orchestration.įeaturing: Matt Boehler as Moundshroud, with members of MasterVoices as The Halloween Tree. Through their search, the children learn about the cultural and historical traditions that have led to the contemporary celebration of Halloween today.īased on Ray Bradbury’s beloved novel, The Halloween Tree has been an audience favorite since ALT’s first libretto workshop. Led by a mysterious guide, a group of children embark on an unforgettable journey to find their friend Pipkin, who has disappeared on Halloween night.

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