EMJ2

presents

by composer Libby Larsen

and librettist Philip Littell

Mary Chun, Music Director

Joseph Graves, Stage Director

Earplay, Orchestra
&

Rod Gilfry, as Jack London
Jennifer Lane, as Charmian London
John Duykers, as Older Man
Susan Narucki, as Older Woman
Ilana Davidson, as Young Girl
Brad Bradshaw, as Young Boy

A world premiere opera on legendary literary giant and Sonoma Valley resident, Jack London starring world renowned operatic baritone Rod Gilfry as Jack London

Performances: November 11, 12, 15, 18 , 19, 2006
Person Theatre, Sonoma State University

Presented in association with the Green Music Festival

Photograph by Art Streiber

As part of its mission as a regional opera company located in a wonderfully historic area of California, SONOMA CITY OPERA has (for the second time) commissioned a new opera dealing with important persons and events in the history of the Sonoma Valley and California.

This opera, entitled Every Man Jack, will explore the life of Jack London, charismatic and controversial writer of national and international renown and early twentieth Century resident of Sonoma Valley.

His life and works have given him a mystique and following that have stretched well beyond this area that he loved and where he lived, wrote and died at the age of 40 in 1916. As a writer, adventure-seeker, socialist, rancher, he lived a short but driven life. As he said:

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot."

London left his mark through his works, but also significantly at the ranch he bought near Glen Ellen in the Sonoma Valley a few miles from Sonoma. This was his Beauty Ranch where he envisioned and experimented with methods of "Scientific Farming" and built his dream house of stone (Wolf House) which burned before he and his wife Charmian could move in. Charmian lived until 1955 and over 800 acres of the ranch were eventually turned over to the State. It is now the Jack London State Historic Park operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation as a museum for the preservation of buildings, historical documents, photographs and other memorabilia on the life and works of Jack London.

Rod Gilfry as Jack London

After librettist Philip Littell saw the ranch, met London descendants and read London writings, he found the story that really took hold in him for this opera. This was London’s "John Barleycorn: An Alcoholic Memoir". Through this book he found the way to tell the story that will become the opera. As he was writing the libretto, Mr. Littell asked world renowned opera baritone Rod Gilfry if he might be allowed to imagine him as a model for the Jack London role. Mr. Gilfry then replied, "Why not just ask me to do it?" After we had recovered our collective breath, that's just what we did.

Composer Libby Larsen initiated the process of discovery of the popular music of early 20^th century America, in order to frame Every Man Jack in its era. The small orchestra will include that important component of the period for the ordinary person, the player piano. Though the subject matter of this opera is serious, Mr. Littell and Ms. Larsen also see the opera’s presentation as a theatrical evocation of the spirit of that great and popular phenomenon of the time, Vaudeville. In Every Man Jack. a small group of supporting cast will play several roles like members of a brave Vaudeville company.

Sonoma City Opera has taken advantage of the wonderful opportunity presented by its presence in the midst of the area where London lived, worked, was buried, and more importantly where he left his footprints. The company has engaged the services of outstanding American opera artists to create an original opera for residents of Sonoma Valley and for all those people in this country and in other parts of the world who are fans of new opera and/or Jack London. It is the meeting of literature, music and history. It is opera…. Antoinette J. Kuhry

-Background-Wolf House by Bob Johnson