Experiments in Opera - Borges And The Other With music by Matthew Welch

A modular dance opera for Blarvuster by Matthew Welch
for 2 Mezzo-sopranos, Baritone, Tenor, chorus, flute/piccolo, viola, 2 electric guitars, piano, bass guitar, vibraphone, drumkit

For some time now, I have been working on a series of short operas (or modular “Acts”) centered around the luminary Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges, all to be played by an expanded version of my ensemble Blarvuster. In 2007, the first of these Borges mini-operas premiered and had a few separate performances. This first featured two mezzo-sopranos portraying an older and younger Borges meeting in a dream space. Borges was not shy to rework the basic concept of a story in to a new and equally fantastic second tale. For a second opera, two Borges of differing ages meet yet again in a circumstance of fantasy. In both operas, each Borges views the other in disbelief, and furthermore they hash out self-doubting critique and verify biographical information. A forthcoming third section will feature choral writing and intimate chamber passages augmented by returns of the rhythm section of Blarvuster.