10 years ago I first heard a song from Olivier Messiaen’s HARAWI, and started to research the cycle, poetry & music, and Messiaen himself... . These twelve songs are about one’s capacity to hold loss, grief, joy, and love simultaneously; embracing & honoring the past and present; and shifting from the most intimate exchanges to cosmic realizations in an instant. Although drawn to sing this 50 mins work, I waited to find a context that would allow movement & sound to exist in a shared and equally articulated space. . 5 years ago, some key artists and collaborators came into my sphere @bobbijenesmith @or_schraiber @conorlhanick and @winokurz. (And this project is one of the first we discussed to produce with the American Modern Opera Company @runningamoc.) . This year, before we began rehearsals, I wanted to explore how Messiaen was influenced by, and had directly incorporated, the diverse music and dance traditions of Harawi from South America. So for the past 6 months we’ve had extensive conversations with two practitioners and educators of Harawi, Luz Zenaida Hualpa García @luz_phaxsi (dancer and choreographer) & Karen Michelsen Castañón (visual artist) — it feels good to know that our discussions to further understand connections and relationships will be ongoing. . Interruptions interfered with the rehearsal and performance process—namely members of our team getting COVID-19 as recently as last week! 😱 So I’m grateful to pianists @_brettonbrown and Alfonse Cemin for agreeing to join us with bold, brilliant commitment. . After 2 days of run-thrus, on Saturday, which was also my 36th birthday 🥳 we premiered this newly staged version of HARAWI @festivalaix. 😄 (I personally felt that frantic, first performance energy, but I also felt much of what we offered was focused, scintillating and grooving.) . Can’t wait to tour this work in several cities next season 🎵 but the opportunity to sing Messiaen’s cycle for the first time (and 25 weeks pregnant!) was really awesome—and a decade in the making! 🥲 . . . . Special thanks to @paulbriottet @cathbrittan @suziedoyle84 and the production/lighting team @festivalaix for organizing behind the scenes.