WOLF-IN-SKINS

Choreography, direction and libretto by Christopher Williams
Music by Gregory Spears

About Wolf-in-Skins

Wolf-in-Skins is the working title for the third libretto from an original “dance-opera cycle” written, directed, and choreographed by Christopher Williams and set to music by Gregory Spears. Inspired by the obscure mythology and folk legends of the Insular Celtic cultures in Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, the complete work harkens back to fragmentary works of medieval literature such as the Welsh romance cycle dubbed the Mabinogion and the Breton Lais of Marie de France. Tales that tap into a primordial, pan-mythic milieu from whence the aforementioned sources sprang serve as fodder for the cycle's libretti. On-stage singers who sing in a quasi-archaic English represent the work’s human characters. Dancers whose voices are produced by off-stage singers singing in one of six Insular Celtic tongues (with Welsh being the featured language in Wolf-in-Skins) represent the supernatural or “fay” characters. The full cycle, which incorporates a chamber orchestra with period instruments to accompany its cast of singers, dancers, and puppeteers, also features prosthetic costumes, mobile sets, and puppetry to spin fantastical adventure tales about nine central heroes whose destinies are inextricably entwined.

This work has been made possible in part by funds from the 92nd Street Y New Works in Dance Fund, the Greenwall Foundation, O'Donnell-Green Music & Dance Foundation, Philadelphia Dance Projects and American Opera Projects. Additionally, this work was created in part during creative residencies at the artist colonies of Yaddo and MacDowell.

About the Creators

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS
(choreographer/librettist/director)
Christopher Williams, noted as "one of the most exciting choreographic voices out there" by John Rockwell of The New York Times, is a dancer, choreographer, and puppeteer who has been devoted to crafting and performing choreographic works in New York City and abroad since 1999. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. He has since danced for Douglas Dunn & Dancers, Tere O’Connor Dance, John Kelly, Yoshiko Chuma & the School of Hard Knocks, and Rebecca Lazier's TERRAIN, among others, and has performed for acclaimed puppetry artists Basil Twist and Dan Hurlin. His original works have been presented in many New York City venues, and internationally in Bogotá, Colombia. In 2005, he received a New York Dance & Performance “Bessie” Award for his work Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins. He has received fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, The Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and The Bogliasco Foundation, and has held artistic residencies at Movement Research, the Joyce SoHo, Dance New Amsterdam, Djerassi Resident Artists Program, White Oak Plantation, Yaddo, and The Yard. www.christopherwilliamsdance.org

GREGORY SPEARS (composer)
Gregory Spears writes instrumental and vocal music that blends together stylistic aspects of romanticism, minimalism, and early music. His music has been performed by the American Composers Orchestra, the New York Youth Symphony, the JACK Quartet, Center City Opera, the NOW Ensemble, Present Music Ensemble, So Percussion, and the Eighth Blackbird Ensemble. His opera Paul’s Case, developed by American Opera Projects’ Composers and the Voice Program, was noted for its “solid dramatic timing, compassionate characterizations, and huge potential” (Philadelphia Inquirer - David Patrick Stearns’ Best in Classical Music for 2009). Current projects include a one-act chamber opera commissioned by Houston Grand Opera’s HGOco with a libretto by Farnoosh Moshiri and an evening-length opera based on the novel Fellow Travelers being written in collaboration director Kevin Newbury and writer Greg Pierce. New Amsterdam Records will release a recording of his Requiem in November 2011. www.gregoryspears.com

1. Excerpt from "The Love Song of Gilfaethwy the False" from Wolf-in-Skins
November 10, 2011
OPERA AMERICA NEW WORKS FORUM 2011 - Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College
Singers: Drew Santini, Nina Berman, Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, & Ryland Angel
Violin I: Daniel Lee; Violin II: Dongmyung Ahn; Viola: Kyle Miller; Cello: Ezra Seltzer
Harp: Kristi Shade; Recorder: Rachel Begley

2. Excerpt from "The Dance of the Fay Milkmaids Calling the Kine" from Wolf-in-Skins
November 10, 2011
OPERA AMERICA NEW WORKS FORUM 2011 - Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College
Singers: Nina Berman, Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, & Ryland Angel
Violin I: Daniel Lee; Violin II: Dongmyung Ahn; Viola: Kyle Miller; Cello: Ezra Seltzer
Harp: Kristi Shade; Recorder: Rachel Begley

3. Excerpt from "The Curse of Gwyn ap Nudd" from Wolf-in-Skins
November 10, 2011
OPERA AMERICA NEW WORKS FORUM 2011 - Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College
Singers: Evan Hughes, Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek
Violin I: Daniel Lee; Violin II: Dongmyung Ahn; Viola: Kyle Miller; Cello: Ezra Seltzer
Harp: Kristi Shade; Recorder: Rachel Begley; Percussion: Gregory Spears

LISTEN

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WATCH

Photo Gallery for "Wolf-in-Skins" (drawings and photos by Andrew Jordan of costume designs by Andrew Jordan, Carol Binion, and Christopher Williams)

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