The Soldiers
Who Wanted to Kill Death
My first opera came about in an interesting way. I had come up with the idea and written the libretto and a bit of the music, but had no opportunity to produce it until…. someone slipped a note under my front door saying that a local opera company was looking for new works. I jumped at the chance and “Goat Hall Production” put on the opera.
To hear that production, click on this link: The Soldiers Who Wanted to Kill Death
A few years later, Sonoma Arts Live (then called The Sonoma Theatre Alliance) collaborated with me in mounting another full production.
My son Owen and wife Silvia painting sets for "The Soldiers Who Wanted to Kill Death"
My garage became the scenery shop
Creating an abandoned French farmhouse
Nearly done.
The set in place on the Rotary Stage
The great cast
JOAN OF ARC: FEAR OF THE FIRE
(see “The Passion of Joan of Arc” webpage for the current version of this opera)
The inspiration for my second opera came when I was visiting a friend and noticed a book that he had. it turned out to be a contemporary account of the trial of Joan of Arc. I was fascinated. Joan - as she was revealed in this document - was smart and sarcastic and was revealed to have a typical peasant’s contempt for religious and civil authority figures. When Goat Hall Productions showed interest in doing an excerpt, I threw myself into the project, doing extensive research on Joan.
My friend Bill Sevald directed and the excerpt was performed at The Thick House in San Francisco.
The cast goofing off.
One of Joan's British persecutors
Bill Sevald - the director - at work
Joan adjusting her shackle and chain
One of the angels who talks to Joan
The scene for the burning at the stake
Joan pleading with her angels to save her
Miriam did a great job as Joan