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Music by Nicolás Lell Benavides
Libretto by Marella Martin Koch
Musicians of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Where do we belong? Inspired by a real program that reunites families separated by immigration policies at the U.S.-Mexico Border, but only for three minutes, Tres minutos by composer Nicolás Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch imagines the story of Diego and Nila, a brother and sister who share DNA but not citizenship. When Diego is deported, leaving Nila behind, questions of identity, duty and belonging threaten to consume them.
A co-production with Music of Remembrance; the entire San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this program.
Nicolás Lell BENAVIDES
New commission for Oboe, Tenor, and String Quartet
(photo credit Chris Lee)
for orchestra. 3/3/3/3/4/3/3/timp/4 perc/hp/strings
OR orchestra side by side w/youth orchestra
Duration: 8:00
Commissioned by The Juilliard School Preparatory Division, in partnership with American Composers Forum and the New York Philharmonic, powered by the Sphinx Venture Fund
for orchestra. 3/3/3/3/4/3/3/timp/3 perc/hp/strings
Duration: 9:30
Commissioned by the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra with gracious support from Justus and Elizabeth Schlichting.
For soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion. ~9:00
Commissioned by Khemia Ensemble for the sophomore album, Intersections
Opera. Drama. 45:00. Libretto: Marella Martin Koch
Tres Minutos is a chamber opera by composer Nicolas Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch. Inspired by a real program that reunites families separated by immigration policies at the U.S. - Mexico Border, but only for three minutes, Tres Minutos imagines the story of Diego and Nila, a brother and sister who share DNA but not citizenship. When Diego is deported, leaving Nila behind, questions of identity, duty, and belonging threaten to consume them. The opera will be approximately 45 minutes long and explore the consequences of separation in intimate, human terms.
Electronics and dance. 15:00
On Trac|< is a short film that looks at the intersection of human existence and machine acceleration in rural America. The film is choreographed and performed, by Amanda Castro, composed by Nicolas Lell Benavides, and co-directed by Amanda Castro and Lucas Godlewski. Benavides, a former Young Artist Composer with the Festival, has worked with Washington National Opera, West Edge Opera, Nashville Opera, Shreveport Opera, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and more. Castro is a multidisciplinary artist with her storytelling rooted in rhythm, who has performed across the United States and abroad. She was most recently seen at Glimmerglass in 2021 the Fate in Il Trovatore, and in 2018 as Anita in West Side Story, a role she also performed at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Godlewski is a Brooklyn-based director of photography, prop stylist, and production designer. Godlewski heads The Glimmerglass Festival’s video department of one.
On Trac|< is generously supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, and Kara Unterberg.
Opera, comedy. 22:00. Libretto: Marella Martin Koch
Pepito, a lonely shelter dog, misses his old family and his old life. Camila and David, young married professionals, are searching for the perfect dog. As the cracks in Camila and David's marriage deepen, Camila and and Pepito form an unshakeable bond.
For two violins. 6:00
Commissioned and premiered by Lucia Lin as part of her In Tandem series with thanks to the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music
For guitar, violin, viola, and cello. 16:00
Commissioned and premiered by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble