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School of Music Workshops Libby Larsen’s Picnic

For several weeks toward the end of September, Libby Larsen will be in residence to workshop the music of Picnic, the new American Opera that the UNCG School of Music commissioned her to write in 2004. Libby asked David Holley, Director of Opera, to fashion Picnic’s libretto, which is an adaptation of William Inge’s play of the same name. Because much of the score has its roots in jazz, the cast (comprised of current students and alumni) will be joined by musicians from the Miles Davis Jazz Program, all under the leadership of workshop musical director, Dr. James Douglass. This musical workshop will provide the unique opportunity for everyone to be part of the creative process and will give Libby the chance to make changes, as she listens to her music performed in her presence.

Read about the history of the Babcock Opera Commission:

School of Music Commissions New American Opera
Committee chooses eminent composer,
Libby Larsen

The UNCG School of Music Opera Theatre, under the capable direction of David Holley, has a long history of successful opera productions. For example, they have received seven first-place awards over the past eight years from the National Opera Association for productions of Susannah (2004), Little Women (2003), Orpheus in the Underworld (2001), The Consul (2000) , Dialogues of the Carmelites (1997), Amahl and the Night Visitors (1996), and Don Giovanni (1994). In fall 2003 the Opera Theatre presented the North Carolina premiere of Mark Adamo’s Little Women in a program involving numerous other academic units on campus as well as several community partners, including the Girl Scouts.

Last spring Nancy Shane, development officer for the School of Music submitted a proposal to the Babcock Foundation on behalf of the Opera Theatre to commission a new American opera to be presented on campus in Spring 2009. That proposal, with the assistance of Weston Hatfield, former Vice-Chancellor for Development at UNCG, was favorably received by Mr. Babcock, who subsequently approved a gift to the School of Music of $150,000 for this commission. This represents the first commission of a major opera in the history of the School of Music!

Equally exciting in this story is the plan for renovating Aycock Auditorium, beginning in August 2006. Following 16 months of work, Aycock is slated to re-open summer of 2008. Because the Aycock renovation includes the construction of an orchestra pit and stage lift, the School of Music will finally have a venue for the presentation of grand opera that matches the quality of its performances.

Late in Spring 2004 an opera commission committee, consisting of John Deal, David Holley, Mark Engebretson, William Carroll, Nancy Shane and Robert Thurston, began meeting to determine the process for selecting a composer for this prestigious commission. Many names were suggested, and through a process of research and personal contacts, it was determined that several composers might be in a position to write this opera. Upon considerable reflection, the committee chose Libby Larsen. Following several discussions, she agreed to accept the commission! We are excited to announce that our opera will be an adaptation of William Inge's play, Picnic.

Libby Larsen is truly one of America's most prolific and most performed living composers. She has created a catalogue of over 200 works spanning virtually every genre from vocal and chamber music to orchestral and choral scores. Larsen has been hailed as "the only English-speaking composer since Benjamin Britten who matches great verse with fine music so intelligently and expressively" ( USA Today ); and as "a composer who has made the art of symphonic writing very much her own." ( Gramophone ). We are looking forward to this wonderful musical experience.