NEW YORK - On Site Opera presents The Immersive Coffee Cantata ExperienceTonight was an amazing, immersive operatic experience you must discover for yourself.Grand Multi MediaAs you know, opera is frequently presented in a grand multi-media, 19th-century style and an amalgam of music, dance, drama, and costumes.But tonight, from the spiffing creative mind of the On Site Opera’s new artistic director, Sarah Meyers, we experienced artistic immersion in a new way. Moreover, J. S. Bach’s genius was to be realized through his charming, secular masterpiece, the Coffee Cantata, or as it is formally known, “Coffee” Cantata BWV 211, Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht (Keep quiet, don’t chatter). Tenor Bernard Holcomb in a scene from On Site Opera presents The Immersive Coffee Cantata Experience at The First Draft. Photo by Dan Wright PhotographyDeliciously Fragrant Coffee ShopExcitement grew as one approached The Lost Draft, a delightful, deliciously fragrant coffee shop in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood. After entering this charming establishment, patrons bustled about and found seats as orchestra members chatted and organized their music. The aroma of fresh coffee greeted guests and awakened the senses, producing bubbling excitement in eager anticipation of the first sip.Others and I sat at tables laden with freshly popped popcorn and extravagantly delectable cookies. Behind the counter were apron-clad baristas busily preparing for tonight’s repast.Sensory DelightsIn fact, with so many sensory delights to see, hear, taste, smell, and feel, it was easy to forget that this was an evening of opera. It was not to be what an old Philistine acquaintance once told me after sitting through Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at his wife’s behest - he described it as ‘the most expensive five-hour nap he had ever taken.’Anticipation was building for the splendid coffee offerings of the Blue Draft house blend with ‘spicy textures of cinnamon and brown sugar,’ Jamaican Blue Mountain with ‘notes of chocolate and lemon verbena,’ and Panama Summer Honey Geisha with ‘notes of guava, stone fruit, and jasmine.’ A lightweight myself, I was generously served delicious decaf. Bass-baritone Philip Cokorinos in a scene from On Site Opera presents The Immersive Coffee Cantata Experience at The First Draft. Photo by Dan Wright PhotographyPlayful Ode to the Pleasures of CoffeeFrom behind the counter in this bacchanal scene of tonight’s caffeinated, delectable delight of the senses rang the marvelous sound of Joe, barista in disguise, narrator, and marvelous lyric tenor Bernard Holcomb, accompanied by a world-class chamber orchestra. The opening strains of J. S. Bach’s Coffee Cantata, a masterpiece of genius charm, began delivering a delightful, clever, and playful ode to the pleasures of coffee.Digital SupertitlesJ. S. Bach’s Coffee Cantata was originally performed by the Collegium Musicum in Zimmerman’s Coffee House in Leipzig around 1735. It is an amusing miniature opera reflecting the gentle friction between a father and daughter. He prefers his daughter give up her love for drinking coffee to increase her chances of finding a husband. Geoffrey McDonald crafted tonight’s English translation and instrumental orchestration. Audience members were offered digital supertitles to read on their smartphones. Soprano Christine Lyons in a scene from On Site Opera presents The Immersive Coffee Cantata Experience at The First Draft. Photo by Dan Wright PhotographyStentorian Sonic ProseWe soon met Schlendrian’s daughter Lieschen (Christine Lyons, soprano), a lovely lyrical chanteuse, who approached from the rear of the café. Lieschen’s father Schlendrian (Philip Cokorinos, bass-baritone), added his stentorian sonic prose to the trio as he arrived from the café door.Artistic and Sensory ImmersionIt was an evening of true artistic and sensory immersion! Listeners heard, saw, and felt the music. Throughout the production, the cast moved about and among the audience, not only assisting in delivering three rounds of fresh coffee to patrons but charmingly conveying their tale through virtuosic strains of splendid singing, hilarity, and elegance. Faces remained lit with smiles and gratitude in this truly immersive delectation of exquisite music, drama, dance, costuming, humor, taste, aroma, and warmth. L-R: Guitar Dan Lippel, Cello Valeriya Sholokova, Violin Nikita Yermack and on Flute/recorder Anna Urrey for the On Site Opera presents The Immersive Coffee Cantata Experience at The First Draft. Photo by Edward KliszusOn Site Opera presents The Immersive Coffee Cantata ExperienceRepertory NotesJ. S. Bach: Coffee Cantata (Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211) | 1735English libretto and orchestration: Geoffrey McDonaldStage Director: Sarah MeyersMusic Director/Translator/Orchestrator/Conductor: Geoffrey McDonaldCostume Designer: Beth GoldenbergDirector of Production: Emily BarberPublicist: Kimberley GiannelliThe CastLieschen (soprano): Christine LyonsJoe, Barista/Narrator (tenor): Bernard HolcombSchlendrian (bass-baritone): Philip CokorinosLieschen cover (soprano): Teryn KuzmaJoe, Barista cover/Narrator (tenor): Josaphat Contreras The OrchestraFeaturing members of the American Modern EnsembleValeriya Sholokova – CelloNikita Yermack – ViolinDan Lippel – GuitarAnna Urrey – Flute/RecorderPresented at The Lost Draft398 Broome St.New York, NY 100134https://www.thelostdraft.com/(646) 524-6021Performance and Ticketing InformationThe Immersive Coffee Cantata Experience will have 6 performances: February 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, and 24 at 7:00 p.m. The running time is about 45 minutes, including a coffee tasting.Tickets are $40 and on sale at https://osopera.org/productions/coffee/On Site OperaPO Box 231480New York, NY 10023347-394-3050For information, donations, and tickets, go to https://osopera.org/Follow On Site Opera on Facebook, Instagram at @onsiteoperaKimberly Giannelli, The PR Social, Public Relations and Marketing [email protected] 914-263-5395Staff ContactsEric Einhorn, General & Artistic Director [email protected] Gunnarson, Executive Director [email protected] Saha, Development Manager [email protected] Barber, Production Manager [email protected] Dunwoody, Marketing Manager [email protected] may also enjoy our reviews of the OnSite Opera production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Oratorio Society of New York performs Bach’s Mass in B minor, MasterVoices presents Iolanthe at Carnegie Hall, the Art Bath Salon Series, and Madama Butterfly at Lincoln Center.https://youtu.be/s4PpNlO_ZCs?si=8t5-NJ0-Hz88QFCm
