Tod Machover's new opera Death and the Powers had its U.S. premiere in Boston and Chicago this spring, where it was warmly received by audiences and reviewers. Click on tabs above for a wealth of information about the background, personalities, music and media coverage ("buzz"). We would like to thank all who were involved for …
Press Quotes – Death and the Powers
"Machover is a remarkable composer. [His] technological inventions in giving to sounds, through electronics, new sonorities, new eloquence, have been widely and amply acclaimed. But I'd like to stress what a good opera composer he is, bringing the ‘traditional’, necessary skills to a far from traditional work. Machover has a command of expressive vocal gesture. …
New Scientist interviews Tod Machover
There's an excellent interview with Death and the Powers composer Tod Machover in the current (December 18, 2010) issue of New Scientist. In a conversation with journalist Ada Brunstein, Tod describes how he developed the concept for "disembodied performance technology" to bring the animatronic set of the opera to life. He explains how he applied …
Robert Pinsky interviewed about Death and the Powers
The New Vilna Review interviews poet and librettist Robert Pinsky on the theme of death and immortality in Death and the Powers, the character of Simon Powers, and the role Jewish identity plays in his life. Read the full interview here.
Musical America’s yearly directory lists Death and the Powers
Hey, Death and the Powers received a terrific placement in the big yearly Musical America directory. We don't think this is available online, so here's a scan of what it looks like. Yay! Are you planning to go see Death and the Powers in Boston or Chicago? MusicalAmerica (pdf download)
Article about Death and the Powers in German magazine
A terrific and technical article about Death and the Powers is appearing in the December issue of Buhnen Technische Rundschau, the German technology magazine. The article was written by David Staples, who is Managing Director of Theatre Projects, Ltd. the world's most prominent firm for designing performing arts centers. Tod met him years ago when …
Continue reading "Article about Death and the Powers in German magazine"
New Vilna Review on Machover and Pinsky evening
Tuesday evening's "I Sing the Body Electric" event, featuring composer Tod Machover, former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and Pulitzer-winning music critic and poet Lloyd Schwartz, garnered an enthusiastic write-up by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM, publisher and editor-in-chief of the New Vilna Review. The disucssion centered on the new opera Death and the Powers, composed …
Continue reading "New Vilna Review on Machover and Pinsky evening"
Opera News reviews Death and the Powers
The venerable Opera News has just come out with its review of the world premiere performance of Death and the Powers. Critic Stephen J. Mudge lauds the production for providing "an evening of captivating electronic invention." He seems particularly taken with the "soaring finale for Miranda, marvelously sung by soprano Joélle Harvey, and the witty …
Latest press on Death and the Powers
Here's some recent press about Death and the Powers: a review by Frank Langlois from Opéra Magazine (Paris) and an excellent article from Brazil's Revista Galileu. We'll get them translated into English, but in the mean time, you can download the PDFs. Enjoy! Opéra Magazine Review of Death and the Powers (pdf) Revista Galileu - …
Taiwanese post about Tod Machover
We came across this article in a Taiwanese publication featuring Tod Machover's work: 音樂鬼才Tod Machover勾勒未來聽覺世界 不懂音樂 也能作曲 (If some kind person would like to provide an abstract or translation in English, we'd be grateful!)
Opera of the Future 