Irma: An opera, opus XIIB

Irma: An opera, opus XIIB
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Irma: An opera, opus XIIB
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Irma: An opera, opus XIIB
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Irma: An opera, opus XIIB
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Irma: An opera, opus XIIB
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Irma: An opera, opus XIIB
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These words are taken from the artist's statement.

In 1969 I made a sketch score of an opera, Irma (finishing it as man first landed on the moon). I always had in mind a full score, making it the operatic equivalent of A Humument whose source it shared.

Forty-five years later the Talfourd Press presented Irma in full, 120 pages in colour with libretto material and notated score, plus provocative instructions for director, dramaturge, designer and choreographer.

With the parent work A Humument approaching completion it seemed appropriate that its operatic offshoot should be brought to its originally envisaged form as a full score. Irma in its complete form reflects that experience by providing a recipe book for a stage event; with all the ingredients of traditional opera, dance episodes, drinking chorus, mad scene, erotic enactment, and the many variations on love and death.

Irma Opus XIIB performances

16 & 17 September 2017 Irma’s first multimedia performance at the South London Gallery.  Irma was shown as an audio visual installation during the day followed by evening performances.
Directed and designed by Netia Jones, music by Anton Lukoszevieze, video by Lightmap and performed by Apartment House.

A further performance of Irma by The Vocal Constructivists took place as part of the celebrations for 50 years of Scratch Orchestra at Lumen Church, London on June 17th 2019.

21st June 2024 Irma performed as the final show of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance’s New Lights Festival, under Artistic Director Douglas Finch.