Independence Eve
An American Opera in Three Scenes
Libretto: Daniel Neer
Composer: Sidney Marquez Boquiren
Independence Eve is a new one-act chamber opera by composer Sidney Marquez Boquiren and librettist Daniel Neer that explores the troubled journey of race relations in America. Comprised of three independent scenes, each taking place on July 3 of different decades in unspecified cities, Independence Eve focuses on the stories of three character pairings struggling with identity and acceptance amidst issues that span one hundred years of our American experience. Independence Eve is being developed through the guidance and mentorship of American Opera Projects.
Performance History and Development
January 24 & 26, 2020
Red Mountain Theatre Company, Birmingham, Alabama
Brian Wallin (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone
Cris Frisco (music director), Dennis Whitehead Darling (stage director)
June 3 – 11, 2017
World Premiere
Signature Theatre, Washington DC
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Robert Wood (conductor), Shaun Patrick Tubbs (director)
November 10, 2016
Orchestral Concert Performance of Scene I, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Ensemble Pi / 13th Peace Project Concert: Black Lives Matter
Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn
Brandon Snook (tenor), Damian Norfleet (baritone)
February 3 – 5, 2015
Workshop and Piano-Vocal Reading of Complete Opera
Harlem School of the Arts
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Daniel Neer (director)
November 13 & 15, 2014
Piano-Vocal Reading of Complete Opera
Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Garden City, NY
American Opera Projects, South Oxford Space, Brooklyn, NY
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Damian Norfleet (director)
November 14, 2014
Staged Performance of Scene I, ‘Stop and Frisk’
AOP | Hear America Singing
Bronx Collaborative High School
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Damian Norfleet (director)
September 16, 2014
Concert Performance of Scene 1, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Two Sides Sounding | BEAT Festival
“The Unsung City”
Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Ted Gorodetzky (director)
September 13, 2014
Concert Performance of Scene 1, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Two Sides Sounding | BEAT Festival
East New York Farmers Market, Brooklyn
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Ted Gorodetzky (director)
May 2, 2014
Concert Performance of Scene 1, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Two Sides Sounding
“AOP25: Living Composers, Living New York”
The Actors Fund Arts Center, Brooklyn
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Ted Gorodetzky (director)
November 6, 2013
Libretto Reading
Presented by AOP First Chance
Michael Criscuolo and Damian Norfleet, actors
Lemuel Wade (director)
September 22, 2012
Concert Performance of Scene I, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Presented by AOP and the BEAT Festival as part of OPERAtion Brooklyn
The Irondale Center
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Noah Himmelstein (director)
September 19, 2012
Concert Performance of Scene 1, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Presented by AOP and the BEAT Festival as part of OPERAtion Brooklyn
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Noah Himmelstein (director)
September 13, 2012
Concert Performance of Scene I, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Presented by AOP and the BEAT Festival as part of OPERAtion Brooklyn
Flatbush Reformed Church
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Noah Himmelstein (director)
September 7 & 9, 2012
Concert Performance of Scene I, ‘Stop and Frisk’
Presented by AOP as part of Composers & the Voice: Six Scenes
South Oxford Space, Brooklyn
Brandon Snook (tenor), Jorell Williams (baritone)
Mila Henry (piano), Noah Himmelstein (director)
Press
June 5, 2017 – The Washington Post: Tackling race in opera — at center stage
“There’s a lot packed into this small, punchy piece… Opera doesn’t need to be obviously relevant to be important. But when one does take on a particularly topical subject, it’s nice to see it doing it justice.”
June 8, 2017 – DC Theatre Scene: New chamber opera Independence Eve from UrbanArias
“It’s magical… the piece is thoughtful, tender and infinitely musical. Daniel Neer, the librettist, concentrates on the relationships, not the politics…”
June 4, 2017 – DC Metro Theatre Arts: Review: ‘Independence Eve’ at UrbanArias
“This is compact opera that lays social concerns at your feet.”
September 15, 2014 – The New Yorker: “Stop, Frisk, Sing”
July 17, 2014 – Crain’s New York Business: “Stop-and-frisk, the musical”
Links / Info
Independence Eve at American Opera Projects