ABOUT SWEET LAND
The opera Sweet Land, which premiered in February 2020, was a surreal travelogue through the Los Angeles State Historic Park. Separating the audience into two experiences of erasure and survival, Sweet Land explored the myths surrounding America’s origins by inventing a new, elemental myth of Hosts and Arrivals. As the natural landscape and the undeniable remnants of industrialization stood in silence, the land itself was a central character, stark relief to the fantastical world of an imaginary place called “Sweet Land.”
SWEET LAND
Music by Raven Chacon and Du Yun
Libretto by Aja Couchois Duncan and Douglas Kearney
Music Direction by Marc Lowenstein
Co-conducted by Marc Lowenstein and Jenny Wong
Original production by The Industry
World premiere February 29, 2020
Directed by Cannupa Hanska Luger and Yuval Sharon
For the entire Sweet Land program book (including the full libretto, production credits, and in-depth interviews with interviews, essays) please visit:
theindustryla.org/sweet-land-opera/
ABOUT THE RECORDING
Sweet Land was recorded live on set at the Los Angeles State Historic Park on March 15, 2020, the evening Los Angeles County issued the first lockdown orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the incredible work of our ensemble, creative, and production teams, we captured one final impassioned performance to preserve what the Los Angeles Times called "opera as astonishment." Over the next year, we collected additional studio recordings to complete the album.
FEAST CAST
Micaela Tobin, Coyote
Sharon Chohi Kim, Wiindigo
Jenny Wong, Totaa’ar
Kelci Hahn, Makwa
Derrell Acon, Grandfather
Babatunde Akinboboye, Father
Fahad Siadat, Son
Scott Belluz, Jimmy Gin
TRAIN CAST
Carmina Escobar, Coyote
Jehnean Washington, Guide
Lindsay Patterson Abdou, Bow
Nandani Sinha, Drum
Jon Lee Keenan, Captain
Richard Hodges, Preacher
Joanna Ceja, Rifle
Peabody Southwell, Scribe
FEAST ENSEMBLE
Maria Elena Altany
Richard An
Adam Faruqi
David Harris
David Hobbs
Laurel Irene
Molly Pease
Theodosia Roussos
TRAIN ENSEMBLE
Luvi Avendano
Jessica M. Choi
Mindy Ella Chu
Mana Contractor
Angelica Rowell
David García Saldaña
Jaquain Sloan
THE CROSSROADS CAST
Carmina Escobar, Coyote
Micaela Tobin, Coyote
Sharon Chohi Kim, Wiindigo
ECHOES & EXPULSIONS CAST
Leander Rajan, Speck
Nandani Sinha, Hera
Joanna Ceja, Dolores
Sharon Chohi Kim, Chinese Woman
Molly Pease, Rosa
Jordan Curcuruto, Corey Fogel, Derek Tywoniuk, Percussion
ORCHESTRA
Maiani da Silva, Concertmaster
Adrianne Pope, Violin
Mona Tian, Violin
Marta Honer, Viola
Diana Wade, Viola
Jennifer Bewerse, Cello
Derek Stein, Cello
Hakeem Holloway, Bass
Ben Finley, Bass
Erin McKibben, Flute
Damon Zick, Flute & Saxophone
Brian Walsh, Clarinet & Saxophone
Andrew Conrad, Clarinet & Saxophone
Sarah Belle Reid, Trumpet
Mattie Barbier, Trombone
Luke Storm, Tuba
Brad Moller, Tuba
Lily Maase, Guitar
Michel Von Loh, Guitar
Lucy Yates, Piano
Milena Gligic, Piano
Corey Fogel, Percussion
Jordan Curcuruto, Percussion
Derek Tywoniuk, Percussion