Opera Povera: Full Pink Moon A Live Stream Performance

Directed by CalArts alum Sean Griffin (Music MFA 95) and produced by alum and faculty Madeline Falcone (Music MFA 13), ‘Opera Povera: Full Pink Moon’ is a live stream performance taking place on April 7, at 6 pm PDT. | Image courtesy of Madeline Falcone.

On Tuesday, April 7, to mark the full pink moon, CalArts alum Sean Griffin’s (Music MFA 95) opera design and performance consortium Opera Povera is hosting a worldwide livestream performance of Lunar Opera, a 1999 open-form people’s opera by visionary composer Pauline Oliveros.

Directed by Griffin and produced by CalArts alum and faculty Madeline Falcone (Music MFA 13), Full Pink Moon: Lunar Opera is open to performing artists, such as vocalists, instrumentalists, noise practitioners, actors, movers, exhibitionists and artmakers to join the performance from wherever they might be quarantined. Interested participants are asked to submit this form.

From Opera Povera’s invitation: 

Collaborate with us in presenting this encompassing expression of our creative performance power to reach out and hear, feel, improvise, tease, harmonize, scream, shake up, clarify, distort and share with each other in a time of separation and quarantine with a collective structure that Pauline defined as “dedicated to tolerance and freedom.” Break out, grab instruments, assemble a costume, do your hair up, get props and share your most private and immersive sounds and fantasies or just sing out with us exactly how you are with the shared conviction that those who wish to sing always find their song. 

According to Oliveros’ Lunar Opera score, each performer is responsible for creating their own costume and props, and what or how to perform. Performers pick a sound to listen for and when that sound is perceived they begin performing. The same sound or another sound can be used to stop performing and freeze until the cue comes again. 

A pre-opera discussion will be co-hosted by Ron Athey, George Lewis, Griffin and guest curators and artists are hosting a pre-opera discussion at 5 pm PDT. The event runs from 6 pm-12 am PDT. Full Pink Moon is supported and hosted by the Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry at the University of Chicago.

Opera Povera’s productions, designs, recordings and live performances have been featured at many art institutions and festivals including MoMA, Brooklyn Museum, REDCAT, LACMA, MAK Center, the 56th Venice Biennial and the Broad Museum.