Glass "Tree"

1st March 2007

A Wicked Stepmother murders her stepson and serves him in a stew to his father. The boy's sister buries his bones under a juniper tree. The child's spirit returns as a singing bird who wreaks vengeance on his Stepmother before being restored to life.

This sinister Grimm fairytale is the source of Philip Glass's opera The Juniper Tree, which receives its New York premiere on 20 March at Alice Tully Hall by The Collegiate Chorale and the Orchestra of Saint Luke's.

Set to texts adapted by Arthur Yorinks, The Juniper Tree examines the primordial urges of murder and jealousy, while the music expresses an aura of magical innocence and redemption.

Welsh director and actor Roger Rees directs the multi-media opera, which Glass co-composed with Robert Moran: each composer wrote three of the six scenes, creating a remarkable work of collaboration that incorporates the chorus into contemporary opera. Projection designer Wendall Harrington incorporates illustrations created by Maurice Sendak.

     The Juniper Tree
     Duration: 90'
     4 Sopranos, Mezzo Soprano, Tenor, 2 Baritones, Bass
     mixed chorus, children's voices
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illustration: Maurice Sendak
courtesy: The Collegiate Chorale