Women in History shine in atoms & artifacts

Alice Tierney cast & creative team. Photo by Ari Finch.

New Wave Opera wrapped up a weekend of performances of Atoms & Artifacts, our double bill of operas about the experiences and perceptions of historical women, to enthusiastic crowds at the Mago Hunt Center in Portland, OR.  The shows were a double bill of west coast premieres. First on the program was Marie Curie Learns to Swim, by Jessica Rudman and Kendra Preston Leonard, about Madame Curie and her daughter and research partner, Irene, followed by Alice Tierney by Melissa Dunphy & Jacqueline Goldfinger, about a team of archeologists trying to unearth the truth about an 1800's murder victim. 

Music Director Stephen Lewis directs the chamber ensemble. Photo by Ari Finch.

Alishia Garcia as Young Marie Curie and Zachary Lenox as Pierre Curie. Photo by Ari Finch.

"Both the operas had relatable stories and accessible yet sophisticated music," shared one audience member. Another audience member raved, "I love how much depth the women and queer characters in both operas had. I appreciate how they didn't shy away from expressing real world frustrations in their lives."

New Wave Opera broke new ground with Marie Curie Learns to Swim, marking our first production with a full chamber ensemble, directed by Dr. Stephen Lewis. Rudman's evocative and colorful score wowed with shimmering colors suggesting radium and sweeping lines that brought the seashore to life.

Alice Tierney's team of modern-day graduate student archeologists brought chuckles to the audience with their opening number, peppered with curse words one might expect from a frustrated team of students. These comical moments were balanced by poignancy, especially in Lindsey Rae Johnson's aria "I might be Alice Tierney," which painted a picture of a woman who never could satisfy society's expectations. 

Amanda Rose Taddeo, Chelsea Janzen Williams, Henriet Fourie, and Scot Crandal in Alice Tierney. Photo by Ari Finch.

Amanda Rose Taddeo, Chelsea Janzen Williams, Lindsey Rae Johnson, and Scot Crandal in Alice Tierney. Photo by Ari Finch.

Atoms & Artifacts was made possible through generous support of Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), Portland Arts and Culture Arts Access Fund, the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition (MCCC), Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation, Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, Oregon Cultural Trust, the University of Portland, and the support of our donors. Alice Tierney was produced through arrangement with Mormolyke Press.