Recollections of the Forgotten
Recollections of the Forgotten is an oratorio that not only helps us remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, but also to heal the wounds left open in its aftermath. It is a 45-minute work scored for Soloists, Chorus, and Orchestra.
The plot follows the story of Cain and Abel, a story of jealousy, hatred, and violence between two brothers. In Recollections of the Forgotten, we observe what effects their conflict might have had on the world. How does Eve react when she returns home to find that one of her sons has been slain by the other? How has history been a reflection of their story? It is a work not only for Armenians, but for all who have suffered loss as a result of violence.
"This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before."
- Leonard Bernstein
Act III. To Dream
Meet the Premiere Soloists
Rebecca Bishop,
Mezzo-Soprano
Elizabeth Queen,
Soprano
Rebecca Bishop holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSU Long Beach. In her time there, she studied voice with Dr. Katharin Rundus. She has sung professionally at the Staples Center singing backup for the Rolling Stones, and recorded in studios singing for movies such as Life is Love, Daim Duab, and Final Encounter. Recently, Rebecca has been singing for showcases around Southern California for labels such as Columbia Records, Interscope Records, Universal Music Group, Jive Records, and Sony Music Entertainment. You can find her debut EP on iTunes, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Follow On Facebook: www.facebook.com/Becca-Bishop-music
A graduate of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, Elizabeth Queen is a coloratura soprano living in the Los Angeles area. Her previous roles include Frasquita in Carmen (2017) Le Feu in L’enfant et les sortilèges (2016), Königin der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte (2014), and Gianetta in L’elisir d’amore (2015). She is a recent participant in OperaWorks Emerging Artist Program, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and the Berlin Opera Academy where she performed again as Königin der Nacht. Elizabeth will be singing with the Los Angeles Master Chorale for their 2017-2018 season. She currently studies with Gail Gordon.
Learn More: www.SopranoQueen.com
Emilio Valdez,
Baritone
Jack Wilkins,
Tenor
Emilio Valdez is a young, up-and-coming baritone who has performed as the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, and Eisenstein in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. He has also sung scenes from La Boheme as Marcello, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro as Count Almaviva and Bizet's Carmen as Escamillo. Mr. Valdez was the baritone soloist last season for Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, and has sung the baritone solos for Handel’s
Messiah for the Hour of Power. He is currently finishing his degree in Opera Performance at CSU Long Beach, studying under Dr. Katharin Rundus.
Jack Wilkins is an award winning tenor finishing up his undergraduate studies at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. He most recently played the role of Jenik in the CSULB Opera Institute's production of The Bartered Bride. Jack is a proud student of Timothy MacDougall and has had the privilege of soloing in major productions of Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Mass in C Minor, Weil's Down in the Valley, and many musical theater productions. In the future, Jack plans on pursuing a graduate degree in Arts Administration.