Opera features 'Revolutionary' story

"A Twist of Treason," an opera written by Bloomington resident Julian Livingston, is described by the Bloomington Area Arts Council as a two-act historical dramatic musical about the tragic life and love triangle of the notorious American traitor Benedict Arnold, his wife Peggy Shippen and the British spy John Andre.\nLivingston said "A Twist of Treason" is an American opera about American characters written in the English language. He said he is "thankful" the Monroe County Civic Theatre selected his show for production and he is "grateful" the Bloomington Area Arts Council for the personnel and support.\n"I have written other full-length musical shows but nothing called a full-scale opera before," Livingston said. "There are a lot of people vying for space and creative venues out there -- it's always a struggle to get something performed … I think the kind of musical where you have dance and singing, rock and pop stars like Madonna, is very much imitating what was carried on as opera hundreds of years ago." \nLivingston said he wrote the script on commission from the Battleground Arts Center in New Jersey, which was celebrating the bicentennial of the American Revolution.\n"A Twist of Treason," directed by Bloomington resident Janice Clevenger and conducted by IU music school professor Shuichi Umeyama, is described by the BAAC as an operatic highlight of Arnold's battlefield heroism in the Revolution and the depth of his love for his 19-year-old wife Shippen. \n"I consider this a chamber opera because there are a small number of singers involved. It's presented in the classic opera style with contemporary tastes," said Umeyama, the conductor who prefers the title "director of ensemble."\n"Opera is really the biggest form of musical art which has every theatrical element -- an orchestra, singing, costume, set. It's very difficult to put together and produce, but the performance is an exciting moment," he said.\nThe Twist ensemble includes: Raymond Feener, a baritone acting as Benedict Arnold; Diana Livingston Friedley, a soprano portraying Peggy Sippen; Geoffrey Friedley, a tenor performing the role of John Andre; and Rachael Himsel, a mezzo-soprano who fulfills the role of Shippen's maid Rebecca.\nLivingston said he has written about 250 pieces of music but "A Twist of Treason" is high on his list of favorites. He said his work would be as good of introduction as any into the opera world.\n"I tried writing the story down first as sort of a rhymed play. I wrote the script while envisioning the music and sure enough it turned into an opera," he said. "I would expect the audience to find what they typically find in an opera -- drama, tragedy, pathos, the usual emotions you get on an operatic stage. This opera starts out on a high note but the music shows much more tragic kinds of sounds as the drama heightens."\nLivingston said that although the U.S. of 225 years ago was a "very different world," opera viewers can expect "singable, hummable themes" worth replaying in the human minds of audience members.\n"I hope there are melodies and tunes in the opera they can't get out of their heads, and I hope they compliment the performers," he said. "I hope I get to see the audience again, hopefully to hear something else I've done."\nPerformances start at 8 p.m., July 8, 9, 15 and 16. For ticket information call 334-3100.