Hannah Lash's 'The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep'

Wednesday, December 11th at 7:30PM in the atmospheric crypt of Church of the Intercession in Washington Heights, innovative chamber ensemble loadbang (trumpet, trombone, bass clarinet, baritone voice) is joined by Hannah Lash to perform the New York premiere of her opera The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep. This theatrical work was created in partnership with The American Opera Project with support from National Endowment for the Arts Art Works Program.

The libretto, by the composer, is based on Hans Christian Andersen, and involves all of loadbang as instrumentalists and actors, portraying a group of figurines and sculptures in a parlor. Andy Kozar and Adrián Sandí on trumpet and bass clarinet form a single menacing two-headed satyr known as Goat-Legs, and the trombonist William Lang plays the laconic Grandfather. Hannah Lash appears in the work both as harpist and dancer, as the Shepherdess, and Jeffrey Gavett play her beloved Chimney Sweep.

The action begins with Goat-Legs demanding the hand of the Shepherdess from her Grandfather who is too tired and silent to do anything but nod in assent. Terrified of the lascivious Goat-Legs, she rises from the harp to dance and implore the Chimney Sweep to help her escape. The story of their eventual escape and return home is told through stylized spoken dialogue, instrumental music, sung texts, and dances.

This is a unique collaboration, joining loadbang with not just a composer-performer, but a composer-librettist-harpist-dancer in a remarkable theatrical event.

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Time: 7:30pm
Location: The Crypt at the Church of the Intercession
550 W. 155th St.
New York, NY 10032