The Carbon Copy Building (1999) 75'
Commissioner: the Settembre Musica Festival
First Performer: Teatro Carignano, Turin, Italy, 9 September 1999; Bob McGrath, Director
Instrumentation: Cast: 3 male voices, one female voice; Mz, T, 2Bar/Ct
cl(bcl, cbcl, ssx)/perc/syn/egtr; amp
Special Features:
a. with Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe
Program note:
Review
The Carbon Copy Building is a dynamic and visually stunning trip through the gritty underside of urban life. Words and drawings by celebrated New Yorker comic-strip artist and recent MacArthur Grant recipient Ben Katchor are brought vividly to life by music from Bang on a Can Co-Artistic Directors Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe.
Rock band meets opera, The Carbon Copy Building is a full-length work for four singers and winds, keys, guitar, and drums; and is the first major collaborative work from the Bang on a Can Co-Artistic Directors. The revolutionary show won the Village Voice 2000 OBIE Award for Best New American Work, and embraces the dark, witty humor of Katchor, known for his cult classic underground comic, Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer. After many years, the work is finally out on CD, accompanied by Katchor's beautiful illustrated libretto; in a limited edition hard-bound Book+CD case.
''The Carbon Copy Building'' is made to be read as much as heard... [the music is] translucent and unhurried, it allows the audience to linger and contemplate Mr. Katchor's urban otherworld.''
—The New York Times
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Listen (pt 13)
Listen (pt 14)
Listen (pt 15)
Buy: Buy CD
