(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Con Vivo Music presents the world premiere of Chilltown Boogie by Alon Nechushtan on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 12:30pm, beginning at J Owen Grundy Pier, Exchange Place, Jersey City. Chilltown Boogie is a site-specific historical opera set in five vignettes, each of which will be performed in a different location in Jersey City. This original new opera is inspired by the events surrounding the formation of Hudson County and Jersey City.
This epic production features an ensemble of singers, dancers, and instrumentalists, and spans 150 years of history - covering the Revolutionary War, the Underground Railroad, Morris Canal, the Hague administration, and the founding of Temple Beth-El.
“A talent to watch, with a surfeit of ideas, an unbridled spirit and bold, two-fisted sense of Architecture” - (Down Beat magazine 2011), composer Alon Nechustan’s music adventures have brought him to far corners such as the Yokohama Festival Japan with his contemporary compositions, The Sao-Paolo Brazil Jewish Music Festival with his Quintet Talat, Toronto, Manila with his concerto for the Philippine Symphony Orchestra and The Tel Aviv New Music Biennale with his Compositions for Large Ensemble. A resident of New York City, he has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Central Park Summer Stage, The Blue Note Jazz Club and Joe's Pub frequently with his projects as a band leader of various groups or as an in-demand sideman. He has released over 10 solo recordings on various leading recording labels: Enja (Germany), MGN (Netherlands), Tzadik (USA), BuckyBall (USA), Creative Sources (Portugal), Between the Lines (Netherland), Ayler (Sweden).
There will be an open dress rehearsal on October 1, 2022 at 7:00pm at Jersey City Theater Center, 165 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ. Each performance is free, no registration required.
The cast includes: THE BOATMAN – Daniel Chiu, baritone; THE BOATMAN – Amy van Roekel, mezzo-soprano; THE HERO – Colin Levin, baritone; THE HERO – Sarah Nelson Craft, mezzo-soprano; THE MAYOR – Daniel Klein, baritone; THE MAYOR – Charles Williamson, tenor; THE HAUNT – Jonathan R. Green, baritone; THE HAUNT – Kimberli Render, mezzo-soprano; THE CHOICE – Peter Kendall Clark, baritone; THE CHOICE – Jessica Bowers, soprano.
The Production Team includes Karina Parker, director; Ben Grow, musical director; and Zach Herchen, production manager.
The Orchestra includes Sarah Goldfeather, violin; TBA, cello; Andrew Roitstein, bass; Riko Higuma, keyboard; and Dennis Sullivan, percussion. Dance is by Nimbus Dance, company; Harumi Elders, choreographer.
The program schedule will be:
THE BOATMAN - 12:30pm at J Owen Grundy Pier - Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ. 1878, Morris Canal - a former alcoholic turned born-again Christian discusses his life on the canal
THE HERO - 2:00pm at Paulus Hook Park - 226 Washington St, Jersey City, NJ. 1779, Paulus Hook - George Washington and Henry Lee discuss the Revolutionary War
THE MAYOR - 3:30pm at City Hall Park - 280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ. 1949, City Hall - newly defeated Frank Hague and elected mayor John V. Kenny discuss change in Jersey City
THE HAUNT - 5:00pm at Berry Lane Park - 1000 Garfield Ave, Jersey City, NJ. 1830, Old Bergen Cemetery - a ghostly meeting discusses the underground railroad and generational change
THE CHOICE - 6:30pm at Temple Beth-El - 2419 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ. 1892, Temple Beth-El - Rabbi Schweizer discusses the growing community of Jewish immigrants
In the event of rain, the entire opera will be performed indoors at 3:00pm at Jersey City Theater Center, 165 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ.
Chilltown Boogie is presented in partnership with Jersey City Theatre Center, Nimbus Dance, and Cultural Affairs Office of New Jersey.
This program is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey State Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, and administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, Hudson County Executive & the Hudson County Board of County Commissioners.
Supported by public funds from the Jersey City Arts and Cultural Trust Fund.
Con Vivo Music is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the communal spirit of chamber music to diverse audiences through world-class concerts and educational opportunities in parks, schools and community spaces. With over 100 free concerts presented across 15 years, CVM has reached thousands of listeners. The New York Times has described our work as "delightful and expert playing" and the Jersey City Reporter stated we are "bringing sweet music to the masses." Our performers hail from acclaimed ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, International Contemporary Ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, and more. CVM's concert programming ranges from baroque to modern chamber music, including music by JS Bach, Claude Debussy, Toru Takemitsu, Henry Thacker Burleigh, Robert Ashley, Frederic Rzewski, Amy Beth Kirsten, Matthew Aucoin, and many more.
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