"A Fleeting Animal" at Chandler on Sunday, Sept 20th at 4:00 Pm

A Fleeting Animal: An Opera From Judevine is a collaboration between Vermont poet/playwright David Budbill and Vermont composer Erik Nielsen. It will be performed Sunday afternoon, September 20 at 4 p.m. at the Chandler Center in Randolph. A Fleeting Animal is the tragic love story of Tommy (tenor Adam Hall), a recently returned veteran, and Grace (soprano Mary Bonhag), a struggling and misunderstood single mother in a small Northeast Kingdom town. Tommy is supported by two visiting army buddies and his wise and humorous friend Antoine. The characters in the rich cast leap straight from the often muddy and messy roads of rural Vermont life.

A Fleeting Animal* is timeless in its themes: the harm of individual isolation and the possibility of community redemption. Like all great operas, it has passion, humor, and tragedy. With its earthy characters and libretto and music inspired by French Canadian fiddle tunes, the blues, jazz, and other contemporary styles, A Fleeting Animal appeals to a broad audience, including those who wouldn’t normally attend an opera. This newly revised production is led by Anne Decker as Artistic Director conducting her ensemble TURNmusic and Margo Whitcomb as Stage Director. The cast includes Sarah Cullins, Allison Devery, Johnny Lee Green, Geoffrey Penar, Thomas Beard and George Cordes, and a chorus filled with some of Vermont's finest singers. TURNmusic' members include top Vermont musicians such as Mary Rowell (Craftsbury Chamber Players), the VSO's John Dunlop, Alison Cerutti, Elizabeth Reid and others.