Earth 2.0 • 2024
Libretto by Anita Amirrezvani
Monodrama
For Countertenor (or Soprano) and Orchestra
World Premiere: December 6, 2024
Commissioned by Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Supported by a generous gift from the Eugene McDermott Foundation
Co-Commissioned by Grand Rapids Symphony and the Aspen Music Festival & School
First Performance: countertenor Key’mon Murrah, conductor Robert Spano, choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and dancers Courtney J. Cook and Bennalldra Williams
Forth Worth, Texas
Duration: 40’
About
EARTH 2.0 is an unusual cross between an opera and a song cycle that takes us on a deeply emotional journey through one of the most urgent stories of our time: the relationship between Earth and Humanity. It was composed for and stars the astounding countertenor Key’mon Murrah – who possesses a spectacular soaring soprano range – and features two dancers with choreography by Jawole Zollar, founder of the legendary dance troupe Urban Bush Women. The concise, poetic libretto by author Anita Amirrezvani gives us an emotional perspective from Earth itself, taking us into the very heart of Earth’s dilemma. We all know what it is to be in a toxic relationship, wondering how long you should wait for the other person to change – or whether it’s time to call it quits. In this piece, the birds alert Earth to direness of the situation, and we go from there. All of this has inspired a score full of energy, soaring lyricism, playful joy, and explosive struggle.