Aging Magician / Paola Prestini, Rinde Eckert
AGING MAGICIAN is an epic new opera-theater work that tells the story of Harold, an aging clockmaker near the end of his unusual life. A string quartet and Brooklyn Youth Chorus help Harold uncover his legacy as the New Victory stage is transformed into a living, breathing instrument. Creators Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter, New Vic 1999), Rinde Eckert, Paola Prestini, Mark Stewart and the Attacca Quartet bring together the worlds of music, theater, puppetry, instrument making and scenic design to paint this poignant allegory on time, youth and the peculiar magic of ordinary life, or perhaps, the ordinary magic of a peculiar life. – Courtesy of The New Victory Theater
Co-created by composer Paola Prestini, writer & performer Rinde Eckert, and director & designer Julian Crouch. Instrument designer Mark Stewart. Co-scenic design & costume design by Amy C. Rubin. Video & lighting design by Josh Higgason. Performances by Rinde Eckert, members of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus (Dianne Berkun- Menaker, founder and music director) and Attacca Quartet (Amy Schroeder, violin; Keiko Tokunaga, violin; Nathan Schram, viola; Andrew Yee, cello).
Reviews
“Timeless magic…Shockingly beautiful.” - BROADWAY WORLD
“The Aging Magician is grandly, even venerably, operatic.” - WQXR
“Forged an enigmatic détente…potent…soulful.” - THE NEW YORK TIMES