SASQUATCH THE OPERA - BY RODDY BOTTUM


 
A few weeks back we reported on our FACEBOOK page regarding the opera composed by FAITH NO MORE keys-man RODDY BOTTUM. After a little research and help from Roddy and Sacha at New York Arts Consulting we can bring you up to date information on this musical endeavour.


EXPERIMENTS IN OPERA’S STORY BINGE
seven original works over the course of two evenings


“[Experiments in Opera] is telling stories that are not being told in other places...Exploring what opera means" -
The Wall Street Journal

 
Brooklyn, NY — Following the success of their production last month O
of Sisyphus, EXPERIMENTS IN OPERA now presents STORY BINGE: seven new operas in a two-night “operathon" at Brooklyn’s own ROULETTE on April 1 & 2, 2015,8pm. Roulette is located at 509 Atlantic Avenue (corner of 3rd Avenue) Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are $20 for each night, $15 for students.

Over the course of this opera binge, you will hear the work of seven composers whose arrival at opera couldn’t be more roundabout. The resulting pieces, each from 20 to 30 minutes long, are one-act shorts and opera excerpts in concert and staged performances. Through these works, the composers tell a range of absurd, abstract, historical and hilarious stories. Composers include Sam Hillmer, Nick Hallett, Matthew Welch, Gelsey Bell, Jason Cady, Aaron Siegel, and Faith No More’s Roddy Bottum.



Photo: Reuben Radding

SASQUATCH THE OPERA
 
Faith No More’s Roddy Bottum spreads the myth of Sasquatch in the aptly titled Sasquatch: The Opera. The story is about a small town family’s ‘Bigfoot Tours’ and the fallout when their daughter runs away with the real Sasquatch. Part folklore, part love story, the opera follows the demise of the family and a taboo love affair that blossoms in its aftermath. Roddy Bottum, composer, librettist; Vaughan Alexander, costume design; Joe Foley, video. With: Robbie Daniels, Sasquatch; Colin Self, Faye; Stephen Wood, Fodder; Paul Soileau (a/k/a Christeeene), Val; Frank Haines, drum machine.

‘…the impetus for my opera is a theme I'm particularly fond of, that of the gentle giant, the misunderstood monster, the impaired genius with the sensitivity of a child. I reference John Merrick of the Elephant Man, Frankenstein, King Kong and a 100 pound four year old I once saw on Jerry Springer as characters of inspiration. The story centres around a trashy family in the backwoods that takes tourists on tours of the Sasquatch country with a promised sighting of the beast. Beyond that, more significantly, it’s a love story. The opera itself is three scenes of what will eventually be a full form opera. The current instrumentation is timpani, trumpets, synthesizer and drum machine. The artistic exercise is a profound and unique opportunity for me to tell a story through music in an experimental setting and work and collaborate with some of my favourite artists.’  Roddy.

 


Story Binge - 'SASQUATCH: The Opera' by Roddy Bottum from Experiments in Opera on Vimeo.

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