Saturday 11th 19.00 – 19.35 & Sunday 12th August, 16.00 – 16.35
ARPA Productions
ARPA Productions is a not-for-profit production company specialising in contemporary classical music. We produce professional performances of brand new music and develop professional opportunities for young composers and performers.
Scene 1 – Any day. Adam Pollo’s house on a seaside hill. Adam is writing a letter. He writes many letters every day.
Scene 2 – A different day. Adam’s house on the hill. Adam comes across a rat.
Scene 3 – The next day. In the town. Adam delivers a speech to passers-by.
—– Interlude —–
Scene 4 – A number of days later. An institution in the countryside. Adam is interrogated.
An amnesiac named Adam Pollo deserts the army to live alone in a seaside squat. A hot summer of solitude leads Adam to increasingly extreme and destructive behaviour. Eventually Adam is sent to an institution where adjusting to his new surroundings and formal removal from society means he is free from striving to find his place within it. Based on the 1963 novel Le Procès-Verbal by J. M. G. Le Clézio.
Music: Arthur Keegan-Bole
Words: Elisse Power
(adapted from J.M.G. Le Clezio’s Le Procès-Verbal)
Direction: Heather Day
Design: Louie Lister
Conductor : Joshua Bishop
Adam Pollo: John Upperton
Percussion: Jonathan Godsall
Cello: Steffan Rees
Clarinet: Tara Martin
Electronics: Arthur Keegan-Bole
Music: Arthur Keegan-Bole
Words: Elisse Power
(adapted from J.M.G. Le Clezio’s Le Procès-Verbal)
Direction: Heather Day
Design: Louie Lister
Conductor : Joshua Bishop
Adam Pollo: John Upperton
Percussion: Jonathan Godsall
Cello: Steffan Rees
Clarinet: Tara Martin
Electronics: Arthur Keegan-Bole
Biographies
Arthur Keegan-Bole, Music: Having formally studied music composition for five years Arthur is now taking a year outside the cosy confines of University walls to work toward the première of this piece, his first opera. 2011/12 saw pieces completed for Stephen Rockey, Jonathan Godsall, CoMA Bristol, Gemini ensemble and a piece written for Schola Cantorum Bristol which won the Raymond Warren Prize for Composition. Come October he will be returning to the University of Bristol to study composition, (focussing on the inclusion of electronics in stage works) under Neal Farwell and John Pickard.
Elisse Power, Words: Having studied drama and theatre Elisse has performed in and directed countless theatre productions. She began writing for the theatre whilst at University where she studied French and Italian Literature, specialising in French translation. Having collaborated with the composer on numerous projects the commission for this libretto is her first operatic text.
Joshua Bishop, Musical Director: Josh is a musician and composer who graduated from the University of Bristol with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Music in 2011, where he studied with Prof. John Pickard, Neal Farwell and Raymond Clarke. He now works at the Jackdaws Music Education Trust in Frome and teaches peripatetically in Bristol.
Louie Lister, Designer: Louie Lister is an artist and designer who works with performance, sound, video and graphics. He was involved in the creation of the Islington Mill Art Academy and worked there for 2 years exploring a student lead alternative to arts education. He has collaborated with Arthur Keegan-bole on previous projects, most notably with the play ‘Prosper and Queue’.
Heather Day, Director: Heather trained for 8 years in singing, dance and drama at the Lee Academy, Stoke Golding performing in musicals, dance shows and plays, singing lead roles in Her Majesty’s Theatre and productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and directing and choreographing many of these productions. Having worked closely with the composer since this piece’s inception, she is excited to direct her first opera.
John Upperton, Tenor: Dramatic tenor John Upperton was born in Co. Durham and studied Music at the University of Liverpool as a first study pianist. He then completed a postgraduate singing course at the Royal College of Music in London where he was awarded both the French and the Italian prizes. At the beginning of the 2009/2010 season, John made his stage debut as Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi) under the baton of Antonio Pappano. Recent performances include the role of Tristan alongside Elaine McKrill as Isolde in the Act II duet from Tristan and Isolde with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Federico Cortese. John currently studies with David Pollard.
For a more detailed programme note please see www.theinterrogationofadampollo.weebly.com