"Girondines," a new feminist opera, comes to California for west coast premiere this Fall

New Opera Tells the Haunting Tale of Six French Revolutionary Women

On October 28 and 29, Southern California-based performing arts/education nonprofit Mission Opera will present the U.S.A. West Coast Premiere of Girondines, by Kirsten C. Kunkle (librettist) and Sarah Van Sciver (composer) at Canyon High School Performing Arts Center. Weaving together six French Revolution women’s true stories, Girondines combines elements of theater, film, dance, fine art, literature, music, and the macabre to capture the tragedy, sacrifice, and eerie intrigue these remarkable heroines experienced during their lives. Three of the ladies in this ghostly gathering are guillotined, and three barely survive political upheaval. Based-on-a-true-story, this poignant presentation will captivate opera, musical, and theater fans; history buffs; and the curious seeking a unique cultural experience for their ‘Halloweekend.’ 

"The opera’s story is timeless as women worldwide continue to fight for their voices," said Kunkle; "it is thrilling to present a new work created and performed by women which amplifies the legacies of six courageous women from a bygone era." The opera is sung in English and will be presented with English, French, and Spanish supertitles. Directed by Kunkle, Mission Opera’s production brings together outstanding local talent alongside nationally recognized guest artists. Mission Opera has assembled two exceptionally talented Girondines casts with each scheduled to perform two shows. 

"Kirsten and I are thrilled to bring Girondines to life with a stellar cast and crew in an exquisite venue," said composer Van Sciver, a CalArts alumna who serves as the Opera’s music director, technical director, and pianist/conductor. Girondines features: Kirsten C. Kunkle and Catherine Antonia Kenney as murderess Charlotte Corday; Ashley Becker and Jessica Schneiderman as playwright Olympe de Gouges; Laurice Kennel and Ariel Pisturino as painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun; Claire Pegram and Leeza Yorke as writer Madame Roland; Kaitlyn Tierney and Alexis Wesley as philosopher Madame De Staël; and Marisa Robinson and Laurel Irene as chemist Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier.

Performances will be presented at the Canyon High School Performing Arts Center in Santa Clarita at 3 PM and 7:30 PM on both Saturday October 28 and Sunday October 29. Tickets ($25-$60) are available at MissionOpera.com. The runtime of Girondines is approximately 90 minutes, which includes a 15-minute intermission. Due to mature themes and content, this production is recommended for ages 13 and older.

Mission Opera is an OPERA America professional opera company serving the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys. As an educational performing arts non-profit, they present live theater, opera, musical theater, and educational outreach initiatives, in addition to diverse programming of concerts and events throughout Southern California. Mission Opera strives to produce high-quality, accessible opera and musical theater, to provide community members opportunities to participate at all levels of these productions, and to afford participants and audiences enjoyment and a deeper appreciation of opera and musical theater.

Kirsten and Sarah met working on “Shadow House,” an opera premiere in Philadelphia, PA directed by librettist/theater artist/director Brenna Geffers. Writing for and enthralled by Kirsten’s superb voice, Sarah leaped at the opportunity to collaborate again. Kirsten prompted Sarah for opera libretto ideas featuring women in storylines that would pass the Bechdel test. Drawn to the French Revolution era murderess Charlotte Corday and her contemporaries influential in arts, letters, and science, Kirsten wrote the “Girondines” libretto by weaving six ladies’ true stories together with the added fictional element of all characters being friends and confidants in a secret society. These women’s lives and work as artists, scientists, and activists and the tragic timelessness of their troubles resonate deeply for Kirsten and Sarah as professional women, creators, scholars, mothers, entrepreneurs, and educators. 

With pervasive problems persisting in music in the form of gender and identity discrimination, sexism, ageism, racism, bias, the ‘maternal wall,’ lack of access in the training pipeline, and disparities in performer and composer distribution, Kirsten and Sarah are proud to have created this feminist opera. A female sextet opera is perfect (and necessary) for university-level programs and beyond. “Girondines” presents viable roles featuring arias excerptible for auditions or concerts with beautiful, accessible, and exciting 21st century material. Kirsten and Sarah wanted to give the same opera opportunities to women as men, creating visceral, interesting, and satisfactory roles. They also wanted audiences to experience true stories focusing on women’s personal goals and desires and relationships with one another, expanding opera storytelling to paint a more complete picture from women's perspectives.

WHERE: Canyon High School Performing Arts Center, 19300 Nadal Street, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, USA

WHEN: 3 PM and 7:30 PM on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29

COST: Tickets are available for $25-$60 at MissionOpera.com

For production information please contact: Sarah Van Sciver | harp.piano@gmail.com