Music Performance Theses: "A Sleep of Prisoners," a New Chamber Opera by Caleb Brooks '18, and Works by Jerry Navarro '18

The Amherst College Department of Music presents A Sleep of Prisoners, a new chamber opera by Caleb Brooks ’18 with a libretto adapted from a text by playwright Christopher Fry, an honors thesis performance in composition.

The performance, which will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, in Buckley Recital Hall at Amherst College’s Arms Music Center, is free and open to the public, and will be followed by the performance of the composition honors thesis of Jerry Navarro ’18.

A Sleep of Prisoners is adapted from Christopher Fry’s 1951 play of the same title, in which the author attempts to reckon with the aftermath of the Second World War through the lens of his Quaker faith. Scored for four vocal soloists and a piano accompaniment, the music draws on influences from the 20th and 21st century dramatic and vocal works of Benjamin Britten, Igor Stravinsky, Tom Cipullo and many others. The piece will be performed by Elizabeth Maxey, soprano; Carol Wrobleski, mezzo-soprano; Caleb Brooks ’18, baritone; Ramsey Kurdi, bass; and Benjamin Tibbetts, piano.

The performance is free and open to the public.