Atlanta Opera announces ’96-Hour Opera Festival’ winner

L-R Librettist Hai-Ting Chinn and composer Dina Pruzhansky are awarded the top prize in The Atlanta Opera s -Hour Opera Festival Courtesy Atlanta Opera Credit Photo courtesy of The Atlanta Opera The Atlanta Opera publicized the winner of its fourth annual -Hour Opera Festival a yearly activity that spotlights the creative works of artists from under-represented communities Taking the top spot this year was Dina Pruzhansky composer and Hai-Ting Chinn librettist for their original work Rose Tree Rosenbaum and Li Set in the duo s -minute opera scene explores the dissolution of cultural divides as a Jewish Holocaust survivor and a American-born Chinese woman assistance their children s interracial relationship The winning piece was performed in front of a live audience at Morehouse College s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center For earning top honor Pruzhansky and Chinn received a grand prize and will get the opportunity to develop their scene into a full chamber show with help from The Atlanta Opera This year s festival featured five original opera scenes selected from over applicants all of which were created and rehearsed in just four days Utilizing the festival s theme of Love Overcoming Boundaries for inspiration the other original works featured include sci-fi comedy TransBliss named runner-up to Rose Tree Desert Bloom winner of the venture s Audience Favorite award sub rosa and Mi sangre mi coraz n In preparation for the showcase the participating artists arrived in Atlanta with their completed opera shorts and worked with industry leaders who served as mentors local casts and music directors over a -hour period In addition to showing off this year s shows the event also hosted the world premiere of Steele Roots the -Hour Opera Festival s winner about Atlanta philanthropist Carrie Steele The post Atlanta Opera announces -Hour Opera Festival winner appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta