Performers:
Chicago Fringe Opera, directed by George Cederquist
Program:
Kate Soper | Here Be Sirens ^
Regina Harris Baiocchi | No One’s Child ^
Jasmine Barnes | On My Mind ^
^ Midwest Premiere Performance
In this compelling triptych of short operas, Chicago Fringe Opera brings together three vital and visionary voices in contemporary music: Kate Soper, Regina Harris Baiocchi, and Jasmine Barnes. Each composer offers a distinct lens into the human condition—through myth, memory, and emotional resilience—resulting in a dynamic evening of theatrical storytelling that exemplifies the 2025 Ear Taxi Festival theme: The Composer’s Voice.
Kate Soper’s Here Be Sirens is a bold and genre-blurring meditation on myth, desire, and female agency. Blending modern opera with spoken word and philosophical inquiry, the work reimagines the sirens of ancient lore as self-aware women grappling with their voices, their fate, and their power.
Regina Harris Baiocchi’s No One’s Child is a poignant exploration of identity, abandonment, and grace. Baiocchi’s music, rich with spiritual and gospel influences, uplifts a story rooted in personal struggle, yet resonant with universal emotion and the search for belonging.
Jasmine Barnes’ On My Mind closes the evening with an intimate reflection on friendship, and the power of community. With lyricism steeped in jazz and soul traditions, Barnes crafts a work that is both tender and emotionally resonant—reminding us that healing often begins in connection.
Together, these three operas challenge, captivate, and celebrate the diversity of compositional expression in our time. This performance is a triumphant affirmation that the future of opera is expansive, inclusive, and boldly female.
