Sweat.  Tears.  Blood.

All for the love of the land.

 

A farmer is unjustly accused

of growing a GMO crop without a license.

Facing ruin, he weighs his options.

 

 Composed by Kurt Rohde

“Dark, brooding, gripping…the eerie intimation of raw emotions…
a stunning debut!”                     
San Francisco Classical Voice

 Libretto by Amanda Moody
“… Moody’s virtuosity as a writer is awesome.”
Jean Schiffman, Back Stage West

 Direction & Dramaturgy by Melissa Weaver

Featuring tenor, John Duykers
Baritone, Troy Cook
Soprano, Henrietta Davis

“Splendid … boldly contemporary and undeniably moving.”
Georgia Rowe, Contra Costa Times

“…  a new dramatic oratorio: a poetic libretto by Amanda Moody…
intelligent, passionate, lyrical, serene, biting, ironic … “Bitter
Harvest” is powerful, important, and best of all beautiful … and
completely persuasive. I'm glad I heard it … I'd like to hear it again.”
Charles Shere, Music & Arts Critic and Observer

World Premiere December 2, 2005
At Zellerbach Hall

The Berkeley Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Kent Nagano 

“Bitter Harvest” was commissioned by the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra
with Kent Nagano and produced in association
with Agape Performance Group and
Quantum Opera Theater of Sonoma State University

Funding provided by the Clarence Heller Foundation, the East Bay Community
Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the San Francisco Bay Area
Chapter/American Composers Forum, and Le Theatre.

an American Farmer's Oratorio
for tenor, baritone, soprano and chorus