NEWS & RECENT WORK
Eric has the honor have been selected as a Resident in High Concept Labs Fall 2016 Sponsored Artist Program.
During his residency, Eric will begin developing his new one-man experimental "operetta" entitled The Disasters of 1986, which he will also be performing.
"Voyager meets Uranus" opening animation
Challenger sequence and Chernobyl transition
November 5, 2016 High Concept Labs Installation Loop
Video of Movements 3 & 4, as well as a demo recording of Movement 5, from KRAKATOA, which was written as part the AMOK Fest at Constellation, Chicago. Performance Date: December 9. 2015.
This experimental graphical score is for Soprano, Untrained Voices, Percussion, Toy Piano, Toy Organ, and Electronics.
Scores for these movements can be seen below.
Movement 3: "Aria"
Movement 4: "Eruption and Tidal Wave"
Movement 5: "Dirge"
Movement 3: "Aria"
6-SECOND OPERA: "THE STATE OF THE UNION"
First test in the 6-SECOND OPERA project. Inspired by the tradition of “Flash Fiction” and “6-Word Novels,” 6-SECOND OPERAS are miniature works of music theater to be hosted on the Vine social media video platform. This example video was remixed from existing material, adding an electroacoustic score. Future 6-SECOND OPERAS will be performed by and feature Chicago-area singers and designers.
"THE NATURALIST"
Electronic track built from samples of orangutan song, gamelan drumming, and nature samples. Loosely based on the work of naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. Constructed from material gathered during the creation of THE ORANGUTAN, a performance work by Karen Yates.
Selections from "THE ORANGUTAN"
With Karen Yates. Rhino Fest, February 19, 2016
Selections from "THE SUITCASE"
Belfast, Norther Ireland, February 19, 2011
Durring Summer 2015, Eric had the honor of contributing several essays to Santa Fe Opera's Verismo Blog leading up to the world premiere of Jennifer Higden's opera Cold Mountain. Expanded versions of the essays are posted here:
Durring Summer 2015, Eric had the honor of contributing several essays to Santa Fe Opera's Verismo Blog leading up to the world premiere of Jennifer Higden's opera Cold Mountain. Expanded versions of the essays are posted here:
Eric's art song "ATRIPLA" was be released on World AIDS Day [December 1, 2014] as part ofAn AIDS Quilt Songbook: Sing for Hope on GPR Records. The song is performed by the incomparable mezzo Jamie Barton! All proceeds from this recording will benefit the efforts of Sing For Hope.
"My very favorite track is called "ATRIPLA!" (music & lyrics by Eric Reda), sung by Jamie Barton with Kenneth Merrill at piano. The text is taken from a drug insert, listing uses, side effects, contra-indications with great joy and humor. The song cleverly shows the ludicrous nature of much this language, and Miss Barton shows great humor in her performance."
- David Browning, The Huffington Post, 12/05/2014
"Powerful moments include ... Jamie Barton’s stupendous yet easy-going delivery of Eric Reda’s 2008 “Atripla!” Ken Merrill is the superb pianist for this virtuosic setting of a pharmaceutical pamphlet and Barton’s rich voice, wondrous high notes and immaculate diction detail a hilarious — and at the same time horrifying — list of the drug’s side effects."
- Judith Malafronte, Opera News, April 2015
Eric appears as a conductor in the recent documentary 147 Pianos by Chicago filmmaker Dolores Wilber.
In the trailer to the right, Eric can be seen just after the 1 minute mark.
Eric's art song "ATRIPLA" was performend in New York City as part of the AIDS Quilt Songbook at 22 concert on Friday, November 14. Presented by The Phoenix Concerts benefitting Bailey House.
