On Friday night, I went to see Judith Sainte Croix, one of our six 2010 Con Edison Composers in Residence, present excerpts from her new opera, “The Vine of the Soul” at Turtle Bay Music School. “Vine” is a wildly imaginative and ambitious work. For this public program at TBMS – part of the residency – Sainte Croix incorporated the TBMS children’s chorus, her own ensemble, The Sonora Trio, and Mark DeGarmo and Dancers, as Green Snakes, Wind Sylphs, Flowers and Howling Monkeys.  Judith used her residency time to prep and plan the public version of this work.

“Vine of the Soul” is a sprawling dream-like eco-allegory of one man’s movement from indifference to awareness of the natural world. (Check out this blog interview with the composer.)  TBMS Executive Director Karin Carleton spoke movingly of the TBMS children’s experience in prepping this program – the chance to interact and learn from a composer of Judith’s caliber.

Watch this blog to learn of upcoming performances of the full opera.  Or like us on Facebook for updates on upcoming public programs, part of the Con Edison Musicians’ Residency.

Check out more pics of Judith and Mark DeGarmo at our Facebook photos.