Based on the life and work of the prophetic artist William Blake and his longtime collaborator and wife Catherine, Stranger From Paradise explores the struggle of creation while weaving through themes of love, death, and art as social conscience. Experimental in its approach, Stranger from Paradise infuses opera with an intimacy in text, design, performance, and tone that draws from the strengths of contemporary theatre production practices. The opera is comprised of myriad scenes from William and Catherine Blake’s lives and their work. William, on his death bed, experiences these scenes as visions of his life passing before him in his final moments.

Roles and Instrumentation

PRINCIPAL ROLES:

Baritone — Old William
Mezzo-soprano — Old Catherine
Tenor — Young William
Soprano — Young Catherine
Tenor — Los

ENSEMBLE ROLES:

Soprano 1 — Nurse, chorus
Soprano 2 — First Bird, Flight Attendant, chorus
Mezzo-soprano 1 — Enitharmon, chorus
Mezzo-soprano 2 — Second Bird, chorus
Tenor 1 — Young Robert, The Singer, Voice 4, chorus
Tenor 2 — Voice 3, chorus
Baritone 1 — Urizen, Divine Council, Voice 2, chorus
Baritone 2 — Albion, Voice 1, chorus
Child Soprano 1 — Boy William; Child 1, 2, or 3
Child Soprano 2 — Boy Robert; Chimney Sweeper; Child 1, 2, or 3
Girl Soprano — Young Girl; Young Pilgrim; Child 1, 2, or 3

INSTRUMENTATION for Eleven Players:

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet (in Bb and A), Bassoon
Viola 1, Viola 2, Cello
Piano, Pipe Organ & Pedals
Glockenspiel, Crotales, Cymbal, Bass Drum, Amplified Spring
*Two percussionists play all five perc. instruments

Stranger From Paradise had its world premiere in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 26th, 2017. It was co-produced by Opera Omaha and the Great Plains Theatre Conference, with the following creative team:

Kevin Lawler, Director
Nevada Jones, Composer
Hal France, Conductor

Cast (In Alphabetical Order)

Amanda DeBoer Bartlett
Paul Boesing (cover)
Karina Brazas
Elijah Brown
Mary Carrick
Matthew Clegg
Michael Gray
Evelyn Hill
Terry Hodges
Elizabeth Kelly
Grace Kolbo (cover)
Caroline Kouma
Kaylee Lempke
Timothy Madden
Kelsey Park
Audrey Saucier
Sebastian Sorensen
Jesse Wohlman

Design Team

Ali Hall
Simon Harding
Pei-Wen Huang-Shea
Valerie St. Pierre-Smith
Cecilia Durbin

Production Team

Emma Addams
Alaina Bartkowiak
Mark Blice
Craig Marsh
Kaley Smith
Jay Wise
Amanda Zasada