Some Beastly Repertoire!

This weekend, New Wave Opera will present our inaugural event: Summer Splash! This week, our performers shared what works they are most excited about and what listeners can expect to hear.

Lisa Neher | Photo by Antonia Rose Photography

NWO President Lisa Neher, also our resident mezzo and composer, was thrilled by two animal-inspired works on the program - including her own setting of Lewis Caroll's How doth the little crocodile?

"This text, from Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is a parody of a moralistic poem “Against idleness and mischief,” by Isaac Watts - in which Watts uses a bee to demonstrate the rewards of hard work. Carroll’s poem borrows the same meter and rhyme scheme to tell a distinctly different tale of a crocodile luring fish into its mouth with beautiful shining scales and a deceptively welcoming smile! The colorful poetry and upbeat irony struck me as the perfect inspiration for a playful, mischievous song."

Lisa will be performing the setting with resident soprano, Lindsey Rae Johnson.

"The other work I'm really excited to share this weekend is the Bored Cat Duet from Meow and Forever. The opera is a one-act opera about new love, chosen family, and friendship of the human and feline varieties! When Bailey is swept up in a new romance, her best friend feels left out and her cats Chester and Nala feel downright neglected! This uplifting opera, with a libretto by Basil Considine and music by Jodi Goble (winner of the 2023 NATS Art Song Composition Competition!), is a feel-good story about female friendship, queer love, and the animals in our lives.

Lisa Neher with the late Max | Photo by Zach Finch Photography

"I am also ecstatic to share that New Wave Opera has received a RACC grant to support a full production in 2025. We couldn't be more excited!"

More information on our upcoming production of Meow & Forever will be available later this year - so be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be the first in-the-know on this family-friendly production!

Lisa and her husband recently adopted two new forever-felines, Trinity and Neo!

JOIN US FOR
​SUMMER SPLASH!

Saturday, July 27, 2024 | 3:30 - 5pm
PORTLAND, OR | Westmoreland Neighborhood
Exact address provided upon RSVP
FREE to attend | Donations gratefully accepted Suggested donation of $20 per adult, $5 per child

Join New Wave Opera's at the Susan McBerry Periwinkle Studio for SUMMER SPLASH! This all-ages backyard concert features tuneful opera arias, duets, and art songs by living composers, some of whom live in your own backyard! Plus, hear the world premiere of Kimberly R. Osberg's downright punderful opera trio, If You Cheese! Snacks & drinks of the adult and child-friendly varieties both provided. 

RSVP HERE FOR SUMMER SPLASH!