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    Opera Columbus, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Collaborate on New Chamber Opera Based on Columbus History

    An arts partnership between Opera Columbus and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra will create a new chamber opera based on a true historic event in Columbus. The Flood, a work exploring the Ohio Flood of 1913 and its lasting effects on the Columbus neighborhood of Franklinton through a generational look at one family, will be ProMusica’s 67th commissioned work and the first from Opera Columbus in almost 20 years.

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    With a cast of nine set in four generational rooms, The Flood will take audiences through four generations separated into rooms, starting during the flood itself. The second room follows a father, who survived the flood, and his daughter, whose journey and family are portrayed in the last two rooms.

    “The story talks about trauma and loss and yearning and love throughout generations, caused by one significant event that happened in Columbus,” said Peggy Kriha Dye, General and Artistic Director for Opera Columbus.

    The announcement of the partnership came today at the Columbus Foundation, whose $150,000 Performing Arts Prize will help commission The Flood. Two OPERA America grants will also help with funding: the Repertoire Development Grant, assisting with costs incurred by developing and producing new opera and music-theater works, and Grants for Female Composers, which supports the development of new operas by women, according to the press release.

    Korine Fujiwara, a founding member of the Columbus-based Carpe Diem String Quartet, will fill the role as composer for The Flood. She joins co-producers Kriha Dye and ProMusic Chamber Orchestra’s Executive Director Janet Chen, as well as librettist and director Stephen Wadsworth and conductor Steven Osgood on the opera’s creative team.

    “There is so much to celebrate in this ambitious and exciting undertaking that is The Flood,” said Douglas F. Kridler, Columbus Foundation President and CEO. “Great local arts organizations with tremendous leaders and vision, collaborating with some of America’s most respected creative talents, bringing to life for Central Ohio a brand new work from which we can all learn and be inspired.”

    The Flood, which had an initial workshop in November and an upcoming one in May, will attempt a third workshop in December at the Sundance Institute. It’s scheduled for its World Premiere performances on February 8 through 10, 2019 at the Southern Theatre.

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    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
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