Paola Prestini
2024
Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and the Atlanta Opera, libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy Direction by Vita Tzykun, Choreography by Jerron Herman, Impact Producers EnactLab.
2023
Cello grand opera inspired by Hemmingway. Libretto by Royce Vavrek, direction by Karmina Šilec, produced by Beth Morrison Projects. Workshop and premiere, The Croatian National Theater.
2021
Monodrama for mezzo soprano, piano and electronics. Co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center, San Diego Opera, The Momentary at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts and National Sawdust.
The first solo album collaboration between Prestini and her husband, cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, combining spoken word, movement, music, and image to explore the intersection of mind, body, and nature.
2020
Grand opera commissioned by Minnesota Opera. Libretto by Mark Campbell, direction by Eric Simonson, based on the novel by Kate Di Camillo.
Chamber work commissioned by The New York Philharmonic for Project 19. Words by Maria Popova, for soprano, violin, viola, cello, percussion, and fixed and live electronics.
In progress. Eco-Cantata film, music, conservation, education. Murat Eyuboglu, filmmaker.
2019
Commissioned by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Chamber opera with libretto by Royce Vavrek and direction/design/concept by Thaddeus Strassberger, foley by Sxip Shirey.
2018
Co-commission by the Young People's Chorus of New York City and Yale Choral Artists, for mixed choir and children's choir. Text by Royce Vavrek and live painting by Kevork Mourad.
2017
A Tough Line is a multimedia theater piece of music, dance, theater, film, and poetry based on the dramatic seizure of the Nord-Ost Theater on Dubravka Street, Moscow, October 2002.
2016
Commissioned by Friends of Madam Whitesnake. Libretto by Cerice Jacobs, direction by Michael Counts, video by S. Katy Tucker, produced by Beth Morrison Projects.
Commissioned by Bay Chamber Concerts. Cantata with libretto by Royce Vavrek, narration by astrophysicist Mario Livio, sound by ARUP, and VR by Eliza McNitt. Arias for soprano and piano exist.
Commissioned by The Met Museum and Houston Da Camera. Choral Eco-Documentary. Words by conservationist William de Boys, directed by Murat Eyuboglu. For vocal octet, cello and percussion.
A re-imagining of the traditional art song recital, 21c Liederabend combines leading contemporary composers with world-class librettists, and cutting-edge multimedia to create immersive concerts.
2015
Commissioned by the Walker Art Center and the Krannert Center. Choral Opera for singing actor, children's chorus and string quartet. Text by Rinde Eckert, direction by Julian Crouch.
Commissioned by BAM, the Young People's Chorus of NYC, and VisionIntoArt. A choral installation with text by Niloufar Talebi for children's chorus, string quartet and percussion.
An intimate and stunning chamber piece of animated theatre and live music, with two cellos, a sheet of brown paper, and a box of sand. Commissioned by VisionIntoArt and National Sawdust.
2013
2011
2009
Commissioned by Carnegie Hall. Folk Opera and song cycle with film. Concept and dramaturgy by Paola Prestini, libretto by Donna Di Novelli, and film by Ali Hossaini. Improvisations by Helga Davis.
2008
Enter the strange and beautiful world of Italian born composer Paola Prestini and Serbian composer Milica Paranosic in their newest transmedia creation, VioLens.
2007
Body Maps is a 15′ multimedia work scored for soprano, cello, and electronics.
2002
The Democrazy Project is a performance series that inquires into the role of the arts in a democratic society.
