released May 15, 2020
MATTHEW WELCH
THREE INDIE OPERAS
KOTEKAN RECORDS 110
BARBARELLA
THE MUTT
BORGES AND THE OTHER
These three short operas are each a pastiche on a cultural icon. This collection also uses the studio and sounds of indie music suited to each portrait: Futurist Dub-Step in BARBARELLA, Grinding Skate-Punk in THE MUTT, and the Labyrinthine Math-Rock of Welch's ensemble, BLARVUSTER, in the four-scene BORGES AND THE OTHER.
1) BARBARELLA (2013)
In the terse format of an 1960-70s film trailer, Sci-Fi Heroine BARBARELLA defeats Durand Durand and his Positronic Ray. Commissioned by Experiments in Opera.
BARBARELLA: Virginia Warnken (mezzo-soprano)
NARRATOR: Matthew Welch (voice + electronics)
2) THE MUTT (2014)
In the style of a radio interview, skateboard pioneer RODNEY MULLEN talks about creativity and personal challenge accompanied by a sound world of skateboard Foley. Commissioned by Experiments in Opera.
RODNEY MULLEN + INTERVIEWER: Matthew Welch
James Moore and Taylor Levine (electric guitars)
Matt Otto and Matthew Welch (skateboard Foley)
3-6) BORGES AND THE OTHER (2007 version)
In a dream state, famed Argentine author JORGE LUIS BORGES, concoctor of magical parables, encounters himself at a different age in life. In four scenes, each Borges reveals details of their mirrored lives and books in a dialogue across space and time. Commissioned by Roulette-NYC, The Jerome Foundation and The Van Lier Foundation.
OLD BORGES: Lisa Komara (mezzo-soprano)
YOUNG BORGES: Judith Berkson (mezzo-soprano)
BLARVUSTER: Leah Paul (flute, piccolo), Karen Waltuch (viola), Emily Manzo (piano), Matt Hough (electric guitar), Ian Riggs (bass guitar), Mike Pride (vibraphone, drums), Matthew Welch (conductor)
All Libretti for BARBARELLA, THE MUTT and BORGES AND THE OTHER by Matthew Welch adapted in pastiche of original sources.
Music Composed by Matthew Welch.
Barbarella recorded and mixed by Kotekan Records
The Mutt recorded at WQXR NYC, Mastered by Kotekan Records 2020
Borges and the Other tracked by Clay Holley and mixed by Joel Hamburger at Gödelstring NYC. Mastered by Koteken Records 2020
Cover art by Lauren Kolesinskas
laurenkolesinskas.com
Kotekan 110
www.kotekanrecords.com
Copyright 2020 Matthew Welch