The New York Times, Sequenza 21, Broadway World, Observer, and more review our production of In A Grove at Prototype Festival.
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Mary Birnbaum
“With a foundation of ambient sound and vocal writing that underlines the most important moments with plangent harmonies, this is often mesmerising. The variations grow more meaningful and tragic as they pass, and the effect grows hypnotic.”
“Christopher Cerrone’s melodic material was memorable without being trite… I was very much captivated by this powerful drama and its excellent performance.”
“For this production, the outstanding Metropolis Ensemble was tucked away not in an orchestra pit but in a loft above the entrance to the hall… There was an almost cinematic quality to the dramatically pointed timbral effects of the orchestration, and each of them hit its mark.”
“You could not have asked for better performers… In a Grove is a triumph and among the finest works at this year’s festival.”
“Singers Paul Appleby, Mikaela Bennett, John Brancy, and Chuanyuan Liu were sensational; so, too, was the Metropolis Ensemble, effectively and excitingly led by Raquel Acevedo Klein.”
“Cerrone’s tonal music has a hypnotic, fluid quality to it that varies from scene to scene, from one role to another, matched superbly by the storytelling of Fleischmann… The instrumental work of the Metropolis Ensemble under conductor Luke Poeppel couldn’t have been better.”
“Stylized yet sensual… the highlight of the festival was Christopher Cerrone’s “In a Grove,” a haunting psychological thriller with a libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann.”
Chris Cerrone talks about the adaptation process, his favorite Billie Eilish song, the influence of his wife, and how he built an entire opera out of two chords.
The new opera “In A Grove” may seem familiar, but in the hands of Christopher Cerrone and Stephanie Fleischmann the story that inspired "Rashomon" will definitely be different.