iPod opera and live performance: 'Orpheus: The Myth Retold'
<p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">Arizona</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial"> State University</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">’s department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance presents a live performance of William Duckworth and Nora Farrell’s<strong> </strong><em><span>Orpheus Trilogy, 2.0</span>,</em> launched in 2006 as 26 video podcasts. With a DJ, VJ, Voices, Music, cyberspace, didgeridoo, podcast and Second Life,<strong><em> </em></strong><em><span>Orpheus: The Myth Retold</span></em> updates a myth and the first opera from four hundred years ago. </span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24, at ASU’s West campus, Second Stage West, 4701 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix. <em>Orpheus </em>is part of the spring 2007 arts and performance season and is produced by the department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">Related to the on-going live and Internet music project<strong> </strong><em><span>Catheral</span>,<span> Orpheus: The Myth Retold</span></em> re-imagines the story of Orpheus, the mythical Greek poet and musician who journeyed to the Underworld to rescue his bride, Eurydice. He charms the gods with his music and songs and they agree to let Eurydice return to the earth under the condition that Orpheus not look back. </span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">The performance pays homage to first European Opera,<em> L'Orfeo,</em> by Claudio Monteverdi, which premiered on Feb. 24, 1607 in Mantua, Italy. In<strong><em> </em></strong><em><span>Orpheus: The Myth Retold</span>,</em> a storyteller, the Chronicler, ASU's AJ Sabatini, recounts the myth to the<strong> </strong><span>music</span> of Duckworth<strong> </strong><span>and DJ Tamara</span> Weikel, of Seattle, Wash., and Australian didgeridoo player,<strong> </strong><span>William Barton</span>, who played with the Phoenix Symphony last season.<strong> </strong></span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">Duckworth is a composer, performer, author, and teacher, whose work is known worldwide. His latest book is<em> Virtual Music: How the Web Got Wired for Sound</em>, Routledge, 2005). Duckworth and co-creator Nora Farrell began <em>Cathedral</em> in 1996. The project features an interactive website; new virtual instruments, including the PitchWeb; and the Cathedral Band, a worldwide collective that plays live and online. </span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Orpheus: The Myth Retold</span></em><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial"> is the second section of the IPod Opera, leading to performance in Australia, August 2007 in a production to be staged by the Brisbane River parklands. Performed on iPods, cellphones, and laptops, along with interactive installations and live performers. </span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Tickets are $10 for Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance students, $15 for general admission, and are available through ASU’s West campus cashier's office, or by calling (602) 543-ARTS. Seating is limited.</span></p>