SAVITRI & SAM is a full-length opera composed by John Mills-Cockell with libretto by Ken Gass.
This spring John and Ken were invited to come to Fort Worth Texas to showcase the opera in the company’s Frontiers program. “What a fabulous experience with Fort Worth Opera! Everyone in the company was incredibly hospitable and helpful. The musicianship and knowledge of those we worked with was always dependable, superb in fact. In addition to working and performing Savitri & Sam, the opera Ken & I were invited to showcase, we saw excerpts of 5 other totally interesting new works as well as 2 full productions in FWO’s Festival series and 3 short pieces, Brief Encounters. Last but certainly not least, I was able to make this trip with the generous financial assistance of Socan Foundation, for which we are most grateful. Thank you, Fort Worth Opera.”
A workshop presentation of 95 minutes from the opera was held at The Citadel (home of Coleman, Lemieux & Co) in September, 2013, starring Zorana Sadiq (Savitri), Michael Barrett (Sam), Marion Newman (Sarindar) and Giles Tompkins (Manjinder), conducted by Gregory Oh and directed by Ken Gass, co-produced by Canadian Rep Theatre and Savitri Project Collective. Lighting was by André Dutoit, sound run by jmc with a full range sound system courtesy of William Blakeney and Long & Mcquade.
A review by Leslie Barcza in Barczablog, called the presentation “a stunning achievement.”
A follow-up workshop presentation is planned for August 2016, with the aim of a full production within the next two years.
Aria”What Am I to Do Now?” from Savitri And Sam with soprano Zorana Sadiq (Act I Sc 7)
