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KoKo

(84,711 posts)
Wed Feb 22, 2012, 09:08 PM Feb 2012

Woody Guthrie...For the People! An American Opera for his Centennial!

( I just realized you might wonder why this is being posted in the OWS Forum. Not to cause the Hosts angst...but, because Guthrie, Seeger and Robeson are folks that OWS might want to look back and remember) Do with the post what you will.

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WOODY FOR THE PEOPLE---AN AMERICAN OPERA!
Samples of the "Woody: For the People" Opera

On Monday, February 14, under the guidance of Dr. Everett McCorvey of the UK Opera Department, several of the arias from the Woody Guthrie opera were recorded by a 32-piece orchestra and performed by award winning opera singers to send to dozens of opera companies around the country wanting to program a performance during 2012, the centennial celebration of America's musical hero from Oklahoma, Woody Guthrie.
"Woody: For the People" Opera
Composed and arranged by - Michael Johnathon; Music Director and Conductor - Dr. Jo Nardolillo;
Recording engineer - Rick Marks RMAV Studios, Lexington, KY

The Voices:
Woody Guthrie - Nicholas Provenzale; Pete Seeger - Gregory Turay; Paul Robeson - Reginald Smith, Jr.; Policeman - Jason Brown; Hobos - Dennis Bender and Manual Castillo[i/]

The following are just some of the arias of ACT ONE:[-/b]


http://www.woodyguthrieopera.com/mp3-samples.php[/b


----------Sorry for the Edits...left this out...

THE BACKGROUND:

2012 will be the centennial celebration of Woody Guthrie, America's Most Revered Folksinger.

Woody: For the People is an opera of soaring melodies and an exciting full orchestra. It is the story of a down-and-out folksinger who journeys across America to find, not just his country, but himself. It is about an honest anger of wanting a better life for his kids, his friends and the common people he meets on the street.

Woody: For the People is the story of two legendary American songwriters, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and the unyielding bond of friendship, bound in a tapestry of glory and music. Ultimately, it is about the very people Woody's songs were about. It's about our friends, our neighbors, our communities, our hometowns. It's about You, and Me. The opera is not about politics or political ideals, it is about the uncompromising passion of spirit that one little man had for an entire nation, for an entire generation ... all revealed in one little song.

Woody: For the People is a fully staged traditional opera with symphony orchestra, to be broadcast on public television, public radio, released on DVD with a lesson plan for educational use, streamed online, and performed onstage in opera houses and colleges.

The opera is set on a single, historic date: February 23, 1940, the day Woody Guthrie wrote "This Land Is Your Land" as a response to Irving Berlin's popular tune "God Bless America."

MORE at......

http://www.woodyguthrieopera.com/

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Woody Guthrie...For the People! An American Opera for his Centennial! (Original Post) KoKo Feb 2012 OP
Apologize for the Edits...but, I just added what will make sense of the post and Opera.. KoKo Feb 2012 #1
I think it's very appropriate for this forum. UnrepentantLiberal Feb 2012 #2
I believe Pete Seeger unionworks Feb 2012 #3
Vanity....I had hoped more folks would check this out...But, yeah I know...OPERA..Ugh! KoKo Feb 2012 #4
"share information" ellisonz Feb 2012 #5
UnrepentantLiberal Feb 2012 #6
Thanks for the You Tube....Many might remember the different versions of this KoKo Mar 2012 #7

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
1. Apologize for the Edits...but, I just added what will make sense of the post and Opera..
Wed Feb 22, 2012, 09:26 PM
Feb 2012

DUH.... Rushing a post isn't a good thing..

 

unionworks

(3,574 posts)
3. I believe Pete Seeger
Fri Feb 24, 2012, 05:21 AM
Feb 2012

Played at OWS and I believe this post should be right at home here. The people Woody played for in the dustbowl are the same people at the occupy camps... just a different time, same faces. It's kind of spooky, actually.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
4. Vanity....I had hoped more folks would check this out...But, yeah I know...OPERA..Ugh!
Sun Feb 26, 2012, 08:35 PM
Feb 2012

It sort of turns folks off in some way. But, the snips I listened to were beautifully done. It could suck you in...Believe me...It could suck you in.

ellisonz

(27,755 posts)
5. "share information"
Mon Feb 27, 2012, 01:27 AM
Feb 2012

The SOP is constructed broadly, with the only unacceptable posts being "anti-Occupy Wall Street rhetoric." This group is a community and all should feel free to share whatever information related to the struggles of the 99% as they please.

P.S. I'm a big folk fan.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
7. Thanks for the You Tube....Many might remember the different versions of this
Thu Mar 1, 2012, 08:05 PM
Mar 2012

...through the years as it morphs. It's as true today as it was......way back when...isn't it...

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