Info:

Right Now: a song cycle for Forropera: Chrystal E. Williams and Felippe Hostins

scored for: mezzosoprano, accordian, and orchestra
duration: 25 minutes
text: Kelley Rourke

Commissioned by/Premiere:

American Composers Orchestra and Carnegie Hall (commission and world premiere)
March 12, 2024 / Zankel Hall - Carnegie Hall, New York NY
Conductor: Rei Hotoda

Watch/Listen:

'Pirate Jenny' and 'Right Now'

About the work:

In the pantheon of 20th-century musical theater, Kurt Weill's 'Pirate Jenny'stands as a singularly compelling piece, renowned for its powerful narrative and emotional depth. This song, from The 'Threepenny Opera' a groundbreaking work created in collaboration with playwright Bertolt Brecht and Elisabeth Hauptmann-unveils the dark, revengeful fantasies of a downtrodden maid dreaming of empowerment and retribution.
Weill's music-with its haunting melodies and sharp, dramatic edges-perfectly complements Brecht's biting lyrics, creating a piece that is both a social critique and a deeply personal expression of anger and longing.
'Pirate Jenny' is set in a seedy hotel in Soho, London, where the protagonist works. Jenny imagines a pirate ship arriving one day, with its crew coming to exact vengeance on her behalf against the townsfolk and their injustices. The song's structure, with its repetitive verses building toward a powerful climax, mirrors Jenny's growing conviction and the unfolding of her fantasy of liberation and revenge. Weill's composition-characterized by its blend of classical, jazz, and cabaret elements-reflects the complexity of Jenny's emotions and the intensity of her narrative.
This performance invites audiences to delve into Weill's masterful setting of 'Pirate Jenny,'' a song that captures the essence of The Threepenny Opera's critique of societal inequalities and the human desire for justice and recognition. It is a testament to Weill's genius in crafting music that is as intellectually engaging as it is emotionally resonant, offering a window into the struggles and dreams of its characters. Through 'Pirate Jenny,'' listeners are offered a glimpse into the transformative power of music and the enduring relevance of Weill's artistry.

In the Arranger's Own Words
This piece was arranged with a mix of musical accents from the northeast and south of Brazil. I wanted to include some ties between Germany and Blumenau, my hometown in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Blumenau has a heavy German influence, so keep an ear out for some highlights in similarities between the two!
-Felipe Hostins

In the Artists' Own Words
For us, creating new collaborative spaces is as exciting as the art that comes out of those spaces. Creating Right Now challenged us to be “in conversation” with many streams of thought, beginning with the Weimar Republic-that abundant flowering of art and ideas that shone for a brief moment before being obliterated by a dark new reality. We found ourselves drawn to the work of revolutionary composer Kurt Weill, particularly the song “Pirate Jenny,” the story of a marginalized woman who quietly bides her time until the 'now' when the tables are turned. We are in conversation with Chrystal and Felipe's Forropera, a project that exists to foster dialogue through music, as well as with Felipe and Chrystal's offstage passions, which include an ongoing exchange with the landscape they call their home. We are also in conversation with you, the audience-certain elements of this piece only truly come to life with your presence and energy. The confluence of these streams of thought led us to a meditation on time that considers overlapping cycles of social history, the natural world, and individual lives. Right Now is a meditation on time that puts discrete moments in the lives of individuals in conversation with larger time cycles.
-John Glover and Kelley Rourke