American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) and The Cathedral of St. John the Divine present contemporary composer John Adams’ El Niño: Nativity Reconsideredwith libretto by Peter Sellars and concept by Julia Bullock on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 7:30pm at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, (at 112th Street) in Manhattan. Tickets are $5-45 (choose-what-you-pay) and are available online at https://www.stjohndivine.org/calendar/42514/el-nino-nativity-reconsidered or in person at the Cathedral’s box office.
This chamber music arrangement was first performed at The Met Cloisters in 2018 in the beautiful San Martín at Fuentidueña chapel. The New York Times called it “intimate, affecting and quietly rich with activism.” The piece, which celebrates Latin American poets and the voices of women, returns for a one-night-only engagement this holiday season at a different New York City landmark. The cast of this Christmas oratorio, an AMOC* production, features company members soprano Julia Bullock, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, bass-baritone Davóne Tines, violinists Miranda Cuckson and Keir GoGwilt, cellist Coleman Itzkoff, bassist Doug Balliett, flutist Emi Ferguson, percussionist Jonny Allen, pianist Conor Hanick, with guest artists mezzo-soprano Rachael Wilson and The Choir of Trinity Wall Street. This special performance will be conducted by rising star Christian Reif, who created the new arrangement and premiered the initial iteration of the piece at the Cloisters in 2018. A rarely performed work, El Niño “ruminates on the notion that with the promise of new life, there is the equal threat of inexplicable violence and sacrifice,” said Bullock, “one of opera’s fastest-rising stars” (Vanity Fair), who curated the selections being performed.
“El Nino is one of my favorite pieces of music,” said Ms. Bullock. “It’s one of John and Peter’s greatest collaborations and explores the central themes of the nativity – miracles, the unique relationship between mother and child, and gift giving. The reason to develop this distilled rendering of El Niño with John’s and Peter’s blessing, was to enable more people to experience this extraordinary work.”
“During this season of giving, we believe that El Niño should be seen by anyone and everyone, without barrier of cost,” said Courtenay Casey, Executive Director, American Modern Opera Company. “We are thrilled to be partnering with St John the Divine and are humbled to be presenting this special work to their community.”