Arming themselves with the arsenal of their imaginations, gender-bending Surrealist artists and lovers Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore (whose joint work prefigures that of feminist photographer Cindy Sherman), fearlessly deployed a massive covert resistance against the Nazi occupation on Jersey Isle despite the fact that Cahun was Jewish. Surrealist dream logic intertwines with a dynamic, suspense-filled narrative to forge an opera that’s both prismatic and dramatic, epic and intimate—a paean to authenticity, the ambiguity of identity, and enduring love.
Matthew Recio, Composer
Matthew Recio currently holds the position of Vanguard Emerging Opera Composer with Chicago Opera Theater.
Stephanie Fleischmann, Librettist
Stephanie Fleischmann is a librettist and playwright whose texts serve as blueprints for intricate three-dimensional sonic and visual worlds. Her “lyrical monologues” (New York Times), “smart” opera libretti (Opera News), plays, and music-theater works have been performed internationally and across the U.S.
Creators Journal
Selvies
Sessions
Mini Doc
Libretto Reading
L'Autre Moi Sing Sample
Synopsis: L'Autre Moi
L'Autre Moi The Proposal
Curator discussion
with Alexa Anderson, Jonathan Khuner & Mary Chun
Artist Interviews: L'Autre Moi
InFocus Issue 7
L'Autre Moi
Get to know them: First Opera Stories
previous work samples
COMPOSER MATTHEW RECIO AND LIBRETTIST STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN INTRODUCE AN EXCERPT FROM L'Autre Moi
composer matthew recio introduces
in the desert and trinkets
LIBRETTIST STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN INTRODUCES Sound House
AN Audio EXCERPT FROM L'Autre Moi
Excerpts from
in the desert and trinkets
Excerpt from
Sound House
Matthew recio Bio:
Matthew Recio is currently in the first year of his position as Vanguard emerging opera composer with Chicago Opera Theater. During his residency he is developing operas with librettists Royce Vavrek (2021) and Stephanie Fleischmann (2020). He currently holds the position as composer in residence at the Luzerne Music Center, one of the leading summer preparatory orchestral training programs for pre-collegiate musicians. In addition to his work with COT and LMC he was selected as the first commissioned composer for
the Cincinnati Song Initiative 2018-2019 season. An avid vocal composer, Recio has worked with organizations such as Beth Morrison Projects, New Voices Opera Company, Cincinnati Camerata, NOTUS (Dominick DiOrio’s Vocal Ensemble) and The Crossing (Donald Nally’s Vocal Ensemble).
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Recio is a G. Schirmer published artist under the Craig Hella Johnson and Dale Warland series with his choral works. He was chosen as the American Prize winner in the choral division, recipient of Indiana University’s Georgina Joshi Vocal Commission, as well as a two-time winner of the NOTUS contemporary vocal competition. Recio is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where he was a Jacobs Fellowship recipient for his DM and MM in composition. An active accompanist and singer, Recio studied voice with bass faculty Peter Volpe and Opera Composition with Sven David Sändstrom during his studies at IU.
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L’Autre Moi: by Matthew Recio and Stephanie Fleischmann
Morgan Middleton (mezzo-soprano), Christina Pecce (soprano)
John Mathieu (baritone), Yasuko Oura (piano)
Trinkets: by Matthew Recio and Jenna Lanzaro
Stephen Carroll (tenor), Chelsea Whitaker (piano)
In the Desert: by Matthew Recio and Jenna Lanzaro
Courtney Jameson (mezzo-soprano)
IU New Music Ensemble, Jonathan Spandorf (conductor)
Stephanie Fleischmann Bio:
Stephanie Fleischmann is a librettist and playwright whose texts serve as blueprints for intricate three-dimensional sonic and visual worlds. Her “lyrical monologues” (NY Times), “smart” opera libretti (Opera News), plays, and music-theater works have been performed internationally and across the United States. Upcoming: Poppaea (Michael Hersch; Wien Modern); In a Grove (Christopher Cerrone; Pittsburgh Opera & TBA); Dido (Melinda Wagner; for Dawn Upshaw/Brentano Quartet); The Pigeon Keeper (David Hanlon; Santa Fe Opera); A Space of Sky (Jeremy Howard Beck; Houston Grand Opera); The Visitation (HERE). Premiered: The Long Walk (Opera Saratoga, Utah Opera); After the Storm (HGOco).
Current collaborations: Anna Clyne (Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Choir), Justine F. Chen (Seven Sisters; Aperture Portfolio), Julia Adolphe (National Sawdust), Peter Knell (Seattle Opera/Jacaranda). Selected plays/music-theater: Sound House (the Flea), Niagara (Daniel Fish), Red Fly/Blue Bottle (Christina Campanella, Mallory Catlett; HERE, EMPAC, Noorderzon), The Secret Lives of Coats (Red Eye), The Sweetest Life (New Victory LabWorks). Also: Roundhouse Studio (London), Exit Festival (France), MASS MoCA, Birmingham Rep (UK), Synchronicity, Roadworks, New Georges, Here, Soho Rep, Mabou Mines/SUITE. Grants/Fellowships: Toulmin Foundation, Venturous Theater Fund, Howard Foundation, 3 NYSCA Individual Artist Commissions, NEA Opera/Music-Theater, 3 NYFA Fellowships, Tennessee Williams Fellowship, Frederick Loewe and Whitfield Cook Awards, MapFund, Opera America repertoire development grant, NY State Music Fund, Greenwall Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Fund. Residencies: New Dramatists; New Georges Audrey; American Lyric Theater.
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Sound House: by Stephanie Fleischmann
Directed by Debbie Saivetz with Vicky Finney, Jim Himelsbach, Susanna Stahlmann
Movement: Brendan Spieth, Sound: Brandon Wolcott/Tyler Kieffer
Set: Marsha Ginsberg, Lights: Kate McGee, Costumes: Olivera Gajic