Inspired by Walt Whitman’s revolutionary poem “Song of Myself,” the international collective Compagnia de’ Colombari combines fiddle and flute, dance, sea shanties, opera, and poetry in a declaration of American independence and diversity that invokes the spirit of Whitman’s abiding masterpiece. Audiences consistently name the company’s 2016 production, The Merchant of Venice, as one of their favorite Festival performances of the last 25 years. This online performance of More Or Less I Am will be presented in four installations: Journey, The City, Nature + Democracy, and Gratitude, with a musical coda from the live performance at Greene Space in 2012.
Program Notes
I play great marches for conquered and slain persons.
Bravo les medecins Paul Spera, Francesca Sarah Toich, Lucrezia Spera, Linda Powell, Ayeje Feamster, Kenny Rampton (trumpet)
VIVAS Sarah Heltzel, Ayeje Feamster, Kenny Rampton (trumpet), Paul Robert Pryce, Francesca Sarah Toich, Abigail Killeen, Julienne Hanzelka Kim, Linda Powell, Jacq Gregg, Carlton Terrence Taylor, Juliana Francis Kelly
TIERRA Kyle Sanna (guitar), Frank Rodriguez, Jorge Rubio
WHAT IS THE GRASS? Cheyanne Young, Colin Jacobsen (violin), Eric Jacobsen (cello), Alex Sopp (flute), Kyle Sanna (guitar), Sarah Heltzel, Dietrice Bolden, Paul Robert Pryce, Frank Rodriguez, Sandro Isaack, Giovanni Pucci, David Patrick Kelly