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Jake Heggie
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You are here: Compositions > Compositions & Collections > TWO REMAIN (OUT OF DARKNESS) (2016 rev. 2018)

TWO REMAIN (OUT OF DARKNESS) (2016 rev. 2018)

OOD Premier Graphic
Opera in Two Acts based on the stories of two Holocaust survivors: Krystyna Zywulska and Gad Beck. (Duration: each act is approx. 45 minutes in length) Heggie & Scheer explored these stories in three previous one-act stage works (Another Sunrise; Farewell, Auschwitz; and For A Look or a Touch) and combined them into a full-evening work. Source material for the libretto includes documents and journals in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Zywulska’s I Survived Auschwitz (1946), as we all as various interviews, including several from the documentary film Paragraph 175 (directed by Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman).

The opera features roles for 7 performers (3 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, 1 baritone and 1 actor) with an ensemble of six instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, bass and piano).

The opera was commissioned by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, founder and artistic director) through a generous award by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Music of Remembrance Commissioning Circle. Premiere: May 22, 2016 at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall in Benaroya Hall, Seattle WA, directed by Erich Parce and conducted by Joseph Mechavich. Premiere of revised opera and official professional opera company world premiere: Atlanta Opera, April 5, 2018, directed by Tomer Zvulun and conducted by Joseph Mechavich.

Out of Darkness: Two Remain by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, 2016
Out of Darkness: Two Remain Premiere, San Francisco 2016
Michael Mayes, Caitlin Lynch, Ava Pine and Catherine Cook

Photo Cory Weaver

ACT ONE: “KRYSTYNA”
Her Jewish identity hidden, Krystyna Zywulska was a political prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau. In secret, she composed lyrics to inspire fellow prisoners, even as she carried out her harrowing job in the Effektenkammer: cataloguing the personal effects of thousands of women and children before they were murdered in the gas chambers next store. Many years after the war, she is asked by a journalist to share her stories and record them on a tape player. Haunted and helped by the ghosts of her past – Zosia, Edka, Mariola and her younger self, Krysia – she struggles to find the words.

ACT TWO: “GAD”
Gad Beck’s first true love was the poet Manfred Lewin, who was 19 when he and his entire family were murdered in Auschwitz. In the many years since the war, Gad has tried his best to forget what happened, but he keeps the book of Manfred’s original poems close by. As an old man, he is visited by Manfred’s ghost one night. As Manfred implores Gad to remember and celebrate their love, the painful truth of their stories and fates emerges. It is estimated that more than 100,000 men and women were imprisoned for homosexuality during the Holocaust; it is not known how many thousands were murdered. Even after the war was over, Paragraph 175, the German law prohibiting homosexuality, remained in effect until 1969.

ORIGINAL CAST

Krystyna Zywulska Caitlin Lynch, soprano
Krysia Ava Pine, soprano
Zosha Catherine Cook, mezzo-soprano
Manfred Michael Mayes, baritone
Gad Beck Robert Orth, baritone

ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TEAM

Conductor Joseph Mechavich
Director Erich Parse
Lighting and Scenic Design Matthew Antaky
Media Design David Murakami
Production and Stage Manager Laura Anderson


A recording is available, see Out of Darkness (Naxos).

   

Details on Upcoming & Past Performances

Aug. 21 & 23
2020

WALNUT CREEK
(POSTPONED) A Jake Heggie Triptych at Festival Opera in Walnut Creek features performances of At the Statue of Venus (soprano Carrie Hennessey), Camille Claudel: Into the Fire (mezzo-soprano Diana Tash), and For a Look or a Touch (baritone Zach Gordin and actor Curt Branom). Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek CA.
More Perf. Info.
Festival Opera Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 19
2020

SAN FRANCISCO
(POSTPONED) Intonations and For a Look or a Touch performed and produced by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, artistic director). A repeat of the May 17 concert in San Francisco at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
More Perf. Info.
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 17
2020

SEATTLE
(POSTPONED) Intonations and For a Look or a Touch performed and produced by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, artistic director), directed by Erich Parce and featuring performances by mezzo-soprano Laura Krumm, baritone Jarrett Ott, actor Curt Branom and solo violinist Mikhail Shmidt with members of the Seattle Symphony at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall in Benaroya Hall.
More Perf. Info.
Music of Remebrance Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 12
2020

MIAMI
(POSTPONED) Two Remain produced by the Miami Music Festival in the New World Center, with Kathryn Grumly (Krystyna Zywulska), Jessica Fishenfeld (Krysia), Nathaniel Voth (Manfred); conducted by Michael Rossi in a new production by director David Toulson.
More Perf. Info.
Miami Music Festival Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Mar 28, 29, Apr 1, 3 & 4
2020

CHICAGO
(POSTPONED) Two Remain in a new production at Chicago Fringe Opera, conducted by Catherine O’Shaughnessy and directed by Derek Van Barham.
Chicago Fringe Opera Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Apr 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 & 15
2018

ATLANTA
Out of Darkness: Two Remain at the Atlanta Opera. Heggie and Scheer’s two-act Holocaust remembrance receives its first fully-staged production in the intimate Balzer Theater at Herrem’s, directed by Tomer Zvulun. Cast TBA.
More Perf. Info.
The Atlanta Opera Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Feb 10 - 11
2018

TORONTO
The Canadian premiere of Another Sunrise and Farewell, Auschwitz at Congregation Beth Tzedec in Toronto. Featuring Sara Schabas (Zywulska), Georgia Burashko (Zosia) and Sean Watson (Manfred); directed by Aaron Willis and conducted by Michael Shannon
More Perf. Info.
Congregation Beth Tzedec Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Feb 8 - 9
2018

BALTIMORE
Out of Darkness: Two Remain workshop production presented by Peabody Chamber Opera at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD: Garnett Bruce, director; Eileen Cornett, music director.
More Perf. Info.
Peabody Chamber Opera Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 4
2017

AMSTERDAM
For a Look or A Touch at the Dutch National Opera featuring baritone Bryan Jolly (Manfred) and actor Alexander Oliver (Gad), directed by Wim Trompert.
More Perf. Info.
Dutch National Opera Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 25 - 26
2016

SAN FRANCISCO
Out of Darkness – Premiere production of a new opera by Heggie and Scheer, based on Holocaust stories commissioned by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, artistic director) at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. With soprano Caitlin Lynch (Krystyna), soprano Ava Pine (Krysia), mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook (Zosha), baritone Michael Mayes (Manfred), and baritone Robert Orth (Gad).
More Perf. Info.
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 22
2016

SEATTLE
Out of Darkness – World premiere of a new opera by Heggie and Scheer, based on Holocaust stories commissioned by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, artistic director) at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA. With soprano Caitlin Lynch (Krystyna), soprano Ava Pine (Krysia), mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook (Zosha), baritone Michael Mayes (Manfred), and baritone Robert Orth (Gad).
More Perf. Info.
Music of Remebrance Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 18
2015

SAN FRANCISCO
Farewell, Auschwitz performed by Music of Remembrance as part of the Music at Meyer series at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco. Soprano Ava Pine, mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook and baritone Robert Orth join players from the Seattle Symphony on a program that also features After Life, a new one-act opera by Tom Cipullo that imagines Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso after their deaths. Temple Emanu-El at 7:30pm.
More Perf. Info.
Music At Meyer Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Apr 1 - 2
2015

SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs For A Look or A Touch at Davies Symphony Hall with baritone Morgan Smith and actor Kip Niven, conducted by Tim Seelig. Baritone Hadleigh Adams also performs. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 8pm.
More Perf. Info.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Mar 29
2015

SAN FRANCISCO
A Preview of For A Look or a Touch, presented by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street, San Francisco. 3pm. Free with museum admission.
More Perf. Info.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Jun 22, 23, 25, 27
2014

For a Look or a Touch in Germany – Seattle Men’s Chorus will travel with 130 singers, musicians, actors, and artistic and production staff for a 12 day tour of Germany with their production titled Falling In Love Again, featuring Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s one act opera. Performances in Berlin, Leipsig, Dresden and Cologne/Krefeld.
More Perf. Info. Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
May 14
2013

SEATTLE
World premiere of “Farewell, Auschwitz!” commissioned by Seattle’s Music of Remembrance; Mina Miller, artistic director. The new work, for three singers and instrumental quintet, is based on lyrics by Polish dissident and Auschwitz survivor Krystyna Zywulska in poetic translations by Gene Scheer. Soprano Caitlin Lynch, mezzo-soprano Sarah Larsen and baritone Morgan Smith perform at Nordstrom Recital Hall in Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA.
More Perf. Info.
Seattle’s Music of Remembrance Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  
Mar 23 - 24
2013

For A Look Or A Touch performed by The Heartland Men’s Chorus at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, MO with baritone Morgan Smith (Manfred) and actor Kip Niven (Gad).
Type: Two Remain/Out of Darkness/For a Look Or a Touch  

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Out of Darkness by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, 2016
Out of Darkness Premiere, San Francisco 2016
Michael Mayes, Caitlin Lynch, Ava Pine and Catherine Cook

Photo Cory Weaver

Out of Darkness by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, 2016
Out of Darkness World Premiere, Seattle 2016
Michael Mayes and Robert Orth

Photo Michael Beaton

Out of Darkness by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, 2016
Out of Darkness World Premiere, Seattle 2016
Robert Orth and Michael Mayes

Photo Michael Beaton

Out of Darkness by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, 2016
Out of Darkness World Premiere, Seattle 2016
Ava Pine, Catherine Cook and Michael Mayes

Photo Michael Beaton

One or more recordings have been made. (Here is a Search for them.)   Rental Sheet Music, Scores, Parts and Performance Materials are available from billholabmusic.com.

| Categories↠Compositions | Tags↠Atlanta Opera, Ava Pine, Caitlin Lynch, Catherine Cook, Gene Scheer, Krystyna Zywulska, Michael Mayes, Morgan Smith, Music Of Remembrance, Robert Orth, Sarah Larsen | Debut Year↠2016, 2018 | Compositions↠Opera/Stage | Other Criteria↠Recorded, Score Available (Rental) | Featured Voices/Instruments↠Actor, Baritone, Bass, Cello, Clarinet, Flute, Mezzo-Soprano, Piano, Soprano, Violin |

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