The Grapes Of Wrath March 22, 2010

An all-star cast from opera and Broadway comes together to present the World Premiere Two Act Concert Version of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie’s beautiful rendering of Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck’s epic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Grapes of Wrath", on March 22, 2010 at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Ted Sperling. Called by Musical America “The great American opera,” Gordon’s opera incorporates American popular musical styles of the 20s and 30s: song-and-dance, sweet and rousing love songs, ballads with banjos, jazz choruses, and a barbershop quartet.  Just like the novel itself, the work is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.  Gordon (music) and Korie (libretto) have collaborated with The Chorale to shorten the length of the original opera, while composing new material for the chorus.  And if that starry cast – Victoria Clark, Christine Ebersole, Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Futral, Anthony Dean Griffey, Nathan Gunn, Peter Halverson, Steven Pasquale, Stephen Powell, Andrew Wilkowske and Matthew Worth – isn’t enough inspiration to see the show, the role of Tom Joad’s young daughter, Ruthie, will be sung by Nathan Gunn’s daughter, Madeline Gunn. Directed by Eric Simonson with lighting design by Frances Aronson. Tickets are $25-$160 and will be available at 646-202-9623 or www.collegiatechorale.org.

The Collegiate Chorale, led by new music director James Bagwell, announces its 68th season, including "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", a concert performed live to the film on October 9 and 10, 2009 at 7:30pm at Radio City Music Hall; a Gala Evening, "A Jubilant Song", on December 1, 2009 at 7pm at Carnegie Hall; the World Premiere Two Act Concert Version of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie’s rendering of "The Grapes of Wrath" on March 22, 2010 at 8pm at Carnegie Hall; and George Frideric Handel’s "Israel in Egypt", conducted by James Bagwell, on May 12, 2010 at 8pm at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University.

Subscription packages are available by phone at 646-202-9623 or online at www.collegiatechorale.org.

Official Website: http://www.collegiatechorale.org