The Ticket That Exploded

James Ilgenfritz’ first opera, The Ticket That Exploded was premiered October 29 at Issue Project Room as part of their 2011 Artist In Residence program. Based on William Burroughs’ 1962 dystopian novel about identity disintegration, oppression of humanity’s collective consciousness through technological influence, and revolution through the subversion of those very technologies.

Featuring vocalists Ted Hearne, Nick Hallett, Anne Rhodes, Megan Schubert, Steve Dalachinsky, and Ryan Opperman, an ensemble of thirteen instrumentalists, and live video projections from Jason Ponce, the opera is organized using the same cut-up techniques and emphasis on fragmentation of language that distinguishes Burroughs’ literary work.

An ongoing opera is one which has set material but is perpetually reconfigured for each performance, mixing composed material with indeterminate composition strategies and conducted improvisations. With zero staging, all visuals are conveyed through projected live video manipulations.  Pre-recorded video performances will facilitate vocalists to interact with other vocalists who are not present, or even to sing a duet with themselves.   These efforts to perpetually repurpose the musical and visual content of the opera are a direct effort on my part to draw comparisons between the performative and the generative– to make the very act of reorganizing materials function both as a blueprint for making art and as art itself.
Anne Rhodes, Megan Schubert, Ted Hearne, Nick Hallett: Voices
Steve Dalachinsky, Ryan Opperman, Melissa Hughes: Video voices

Jay Rozen: tuba
Sam Kulik: trombone
Douglas Detrick: trumpet
Justin Wood: alto saxophone, flute
Mike McGinnis: clarinet / bass clarinet / flute

Julianne Carney: violin Nathan Bontrager: cello, Denman Maroney: piano
Andrew Drury, John O’Brien, Vinnie Sperazza: Percussion
Taylor Levine, Ty Citerman: Guitar/Electronics
Nicholas DeMaison: Conductor
Jason Ponce: Video Artist / Live Processing