Cathedral Of St. John The Divine To Present Nativity Story Celebrating Latin American Poets And Women’s Voices

American Modern Opera Company and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York tonight will present John Adams’ El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered, with libretto by Peter Sellars and concept is by soprano Julia Bullock.

First performed at the Met Cloisters in 2018, this chamber music arrangement celebrates Latin American poets and the voices of women. Tonight’s cast will feature AMOC company members Bullock, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, bass-baritone Davóne Tines, violinists Miranda Cuckson and Keir GoGwilt, cellist Coleman Itzkoff, bassist Doug Balliett, flutist Emi Ferguson, percussionist Jonny Allen and pianist Conor Hanick; guest artists will include mezzo-soprano Rachael Wilson and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street. This performance will be conducted by Christian Reif, who created tonight’s new arrangement and premiered its first production in 2018.

A rarely performed work, El Niño “ruminates on the notion that with the promise of new life, there is the equal threat of inexplicable violence and sacrifice,” said Bullock, adding that El Nino “is one of my favorite pieces of music. It’s one of John and Peter’s greatest collaborations and explores the central themes of the nativity – miracles, the unique relationship between mother and child, and gift giving. The reason to develop this distilled rendering of El Niño, with John’s and Peter’s blessing, was to enable more people to experience this extraordinary work.”

In an interview this week, Bullock—who recently became a mother for the first time—further called the piece “genuinely magical and mystical,” describing it “as the Nativity story, though not solely with European white men.”

Ticket prices will be $5 to 45 (choose-what-you-pay).

“During this season of giving, we believe that El Niño should be seen by anyone and everyone, without barrier of cost,” said Courtenay Casey, AMOC executive director. “We are thrilled to be partnering with St John the Divine and are humbled to be presenting this special work to their community.”

Founded in 2017 by MacArthur Fellow Matthew Aucoin and Zack Winokur, AMOC aims, it says, “to build and share a body of collaborative work. As a group of dancers, singers, musicians, writers, directors, composers, choreographers and producers united by a core set of values, AMOC artists pool their resources to create new pathways that connect creators and audiences in surprising and visceral ways.”