Composer ~ Sarah Mattox    Librettists ~ Kara Kondo and Sarah Mattox

 

These projects are based on the journal of Kara Matsushita Kondo who was born in the Yakima Valley of Eastern Washington. Kara and her family were incarcerated at the Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming during WWII. Much of the text of the HEART MOUNTAIN projects comes directly from poems and vignettes she wrote while incarcerated.

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The opera was originally commissioned by Dan Wallace Miller and Vespertine Opera Theater. It was presented in world premiere workshop performances in July of 2015 under the baton of GRAMMY Award winning conductor, Stephen Stubbs, and directed by Dan Wallace Miller. Special thanks to the Yakima Valley Historical Museum and the family of Kara Kondo.

(Photo credit to Alan Alabastro)

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Kimberly Sogioka as Mature Kara    Tara Naoko Ohrtman as Amy, Nina Riley as Young Kara, Silvana Chu as Marjorie   Ryan Bede as the Speculator          Ross Hauck as a Young Soldier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mature Kara watches her younger       Thomas Meglioranza as Tak Kondo    Mature Kara with her younger self      Young Kara and Tak read a card          Mature Kara and Tak welcome their

self with her sisters                                                                                                                                                                 from Kara's mother                              newly adopted daughter, Elaine

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HEART MOUNTAIN OPERA ~ A Chamber Opera in 3 Acts, composed for 7 soloists, piano, and violin. Running time approximately 2 hours.

 

HEART MOUNTAIN SUITE ~ Commissioned by the Whatcom Chorale, this is a suite of selections from the HEART MOUNTAIN chamber opera, adapted for mezzo-soprano soloist, violin, choir, and piano, with optional baritone soloist. Running time approximately 45 minutes.

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Click the link to see video of the world premiere of HEART MOUNTAIN SUITE, performed by the Whatcom Chorale with Kimberly Sogioka as Kara Kondo.

Heart Mountain Suite by Sarah Mattox

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