From some musical ensemble directors:
“Adelina the Jester was an absolute joy to put together. Andrew Grainger's music was challenging and a terrific interpretation of a story that is lively, sad, funny, and uplifting all at the same time. Being included in the entire journey of such a significant project, from listening to its producer's first creative notions to conducting the final performance, made it truly fulfilling. Seeing the overwhelming response from our audiences was a reminder that Adelina deserves to be experienced long beyond its initial run.”
Trevor Shaw
Artistic Director and Principle Conductor, Inversion
"Adelina is an accessible piece for all sorts of folks. The textural threads of modern vs old world keep the audience guessing and entertained: the period instrumentation juxtaposed with contemporary choral arrangements, and the historical characters singing text that could be straight out of a current text message thread."
Julie Fiore
Founder & Artistic Director
"Experiencing Adelina the Jester was a captivating journey into a medieval tale brought to life through opera. The production skillfully combined dramatic storytelling with stunning musicality, vividly illustrating the whimsical and poignant moments of the narrative and wonderful humor! The performance's rich powerful vocals enhanced the timeless charm of Adelina's story."
Liz Cass
Founder and Executive Producer of LOLA (Local Opera Local Artists), Executive Director of Armstrong Community Music School
“Adelina is a clever blend of old and new; it engages instruments and sounds one might associate with Early Music, while employing modern pacing and superlative wit. Light-hearted, entertaining, and just the right amount of bawdy, this charming work is a novel delight!”
Juli Orlandini
Executive Director and Conductor of Panoramic Voices
From some of our performers:
“This was an amazing project, and I feel so honored.”
Bethany Naef Ammon, lead soloist
“Playing the character of Fitzhugh in the premier staging of Adelina the Jester was a privilege and an ox-cart full o' fun! The music is brilliantly constructed and extremely singable, creating an ancient feel built of modern harmonizations. Composer Andy Grainger is a wizard, weaving spells made from a mix of raucous ensemble numbers with hauntingly beautiful solos and duets resulting in an unforgettable experience for performer and audience member alike.”
Steve Young, soloist
“Playing in the Adelina orchestra was a one-of-a-kind joy. We were a tiny cohort of players suspended between musical worlds. We played melodies that felt medieval, on instruments whose forebears would not have been out of place in the Earl’s court, while keeping up with the harmonic twists and turns of 21st century musical composition. The music sticks with you. After the final performance it was hard to say goodbye to that captivating musical world. To this day, at our house, we catch ourselves singing Adelina songs!”
Shana Norton, harpist
“Adelina the Jester was an exciting experience that piqued my interest and challenged me to expand my dance expression. Dancing along with live music in a historic theater was a wonderful experience that had obvious resonance with audiences and performers alike. Very grateful to be a part of the project!”
Jairus Carr, dancer
From some audience members:
"Adelina the Jester is a wonderful and fascinating production and we thoroughly enjoyed the very entertaining story and the awesome music, dancing and singing. My family and I were immediately immersed into medieval England and just loved the concept of this multi-layered show."
“I found this oratorio quite entrancing . . . Amazingly, it all worked: the orchestra, singers and dancers all in sync and creating a panoramic spectacle. The first act is long and sets up both the historical background and the plot. The second, much shorter act depicts the gradual, then faster and finally very satisfying denouement. There is a moment in which the world is set to a very imperfect state of rights: everybody wins, but in doing so each one also loses.”
“What an enchanting story: a female jester, who knew? And enchanting music to match!”
“I couldn’t attend the performance in person but have watched now on video--twice! The music is both exciting and comforting, and the text is witty, a great recipe for an engaging show!”
“I thought it had a very sophisticated musical construct--kind of like Pippin without Bob Fosse. It has an off-Broadway appeal.”
“I was really impressed—every aspect of the performance is so professional!”
"The production of Adelina is an engaging example of the fusion of multiple artistic disciplines. The historical story is compelling and the music sings the story forward by blending medieval and 21st-century musical traditions. The interplay between the large chorus and the soloists in a traditional oratorio, combined with 21st-century dance, adds layers of depth to the performance. It took a musician, playwright, and producer to create this very contemporary, compelling, and rich performance experience!"