Hallowed Halls Performances:
Thursday October 1 @ 7:30pm Lenore Cast
Friday October 2 @ 7:30pm Poe Cast
Saturday October 3 @ 4:00pm Lenore Cast
Saturday October 3 @ 7:30pm Poe Cast

Thursday October 8 @ 7:30pm Poe Cast
Friday October 9 @ 7:30pm Lenore Cast
Saturday October 10 @ 4:00pm Poe Cast
Saturday October 10 @ 7:30pm Lenore Cast

Jesse Preis debuts The Raven, a chamber opera composed for three voices and chamber ensemble from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem of the same name, directed by Melory Mirashrafi. In this opera, the narrator (split into two characters to capture the perspective of the Past and the Current at two different stages in life) deals with the loss of a loved one. These complicated, painful, and even terrifying emotions become personified through the character of the Raven. This work is composed with no specific voice types tied to the characters - anyone able to sing the part can and should sing them. This is a groundbreaking composing technique that unties the binds of gendered characters and allows vocalists to portray a character of any gender that is authentic to them and suits their voice. Preis seeks to expand our understanding of vocal writing to go beyond the gendered conventions of soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and bass-baritone, and posits a world where characters are simply written and performed by a wide variety of voices.

THE RAVEN CASTS

Lenore Cast
Past Narrator - Abigail Krawson
Current Narrator - Claire Robertson-Preis
The Raven - Madeline Ross

Poe Cast
Past Narrator - Brandon Michael
Current Narrator - Dicky Dutton
The Raven - Jasmine Johnson

THE RAVEN CREATIVE
Composer - Jesse Preis
Librettist - Edgar Allan Poe
Director - Melory Mirashrafi
Music Director/Conductor - Alison Norris
Music Director/Pianist - Claire Forstman