BRUNSWICK

“The Shoemaker,” a recently composed church opera by Stephen Paulus, will be presented by the First Parish Church Choir, chamber orchestra and soloists on Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. at Bowdoin College’s Studzinski Recital Hall in Brunswick.

This one-act work was composed in 2012 by Paulus with English libretto by poet Michael Dennis Browne is based on Leo Tolstoy’s short story “What Men Live By.” “The Shoemaker” intertwines a Russian version of the New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan with a story of the angel Michael.

The work, illustrating faith and mystery, will feature soloists Elizabeth Printy as Matryona, Domique Rosoff as Simon, Bruce Fithian as the angel Michael, Elisabeth Marshall as Irina, Malcolm Smith as the gentleman and David Meyers as Fedka, in addition to First Parish’s 55- voice Adult Choir and 15- piece chamber orchestra, under the direction of Ray Cornils.

Paulus’ goal as a composer, he said in an interview in 1999, was “to move or transform an audience, so that they might come out thinking, ‘That piece had some magic, some sizzle to it.’ Maybe it might make them think a thought or idea they hadn’t thought before. Maybe it could suggest a memory or a desire or an accomplishment that’s transforming, that’s connecting.”

Paulus has composed more than 450 works, including 12 operas, and has received commissions from orchestras, chamber ensembles, soloists and opera companies. He has served as composer in residence with the Atlanta Symphony and later, the Minnesota Orchestra.

This concert will be the premiere performance of “The Shoemaker” in New England. Tickets are $15 for adults in advance and $20 at the door; and $5 for people 18 and younger. Tickets for this one-hour program are available by calling the church office at (207) 729- 7331 or by going online to firstparish.net/theshoemaker. A free will donation of canned goods or monetary donations will be taken at the door to benefit the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.