World opera premiere in Kansas features history of kaleidoscope

OPERA KANSAS

WICHITA – Opera Kansas is proud to announce Anthony Green’s Mr. Brewster’s Invigorating Invention as the winner of the the Zepick Modern Opera Competition.

The competition seeks short operas in English that have a STEAM theme (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) that can be used in the Kansas public school system. The Opera Kansas production will be the world premiere of this fascinating new opera that focuses on science and the composer behind the invention.

Sir David Brewster (Photo courtesy National Galleries of Scotland)

Mr. Brewster’s Invigorating Invention is about the history and science of the kaleidoscope. Sir David Brewster was a Scottish physicist who invented the kaleidoscope in 1816. Soon millions of kaleidoscopes were in homes across the world. He has been called ” the father of modern experimental optics.” This production will use creative digital media in bringing the science and colors of the kaleidoscope to life.

The music of Anthony R. Green (b. 1984) ranges from works for solo instruments and voice to large scale ensemble pieces and multimedia productions. His works have been performed and featured in festivals in over 20 countries, as well as broadcast on national, international, and online streaming radio.

An active pianist, Green has worked with student and professional composers alike for premieres or performances of new music. He has performed across the USA, as well as in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Cyprus, Israel, Germany, and South Korea.

When not composing or performing, Green is the associate artistic director of Castle of our Skins, a Boston-based concert and education series organization dedicated to celebrating Black artistry through music. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University, and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory, and has been a resident artist at Escape to Create (Florida), the
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (Nebraska), the Visby International Centre for Composers (Sweden), Space/Time at Cove Park (Scotland), atelier:performance (Germany), and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (Nebraska).

The world premiere will be held at the Wichita Center for the Performing Arts, 9112 East Central, August 25., at 7 p.m.