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Ghost In Machine An American Music Drama for Vocalist, Narrator and Orchestra |
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TEXT & LYRICS John Chenault |
MUSIC Frank Proto |
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VOCALIST Cleo Laine |
NARRATOR Paul Winfield |
CONDUCTOR Jesus Lopez-Cobos |
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World Premiere Performance April 28 & 29, 1995 |
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Press Release John Chenault Program Notes Frank Proto Program Notes Catalog Information Review Photo Album More music by Proto and Chenault |
New Work Tackles Racial, Gender Intolerance
Paul Winfield, Cleo Laine headlineCincinnati Symphony Orchestra Centennial Commission
CINCINNATI, Ohio - May 1, 1995 - Racial hatred, religious intolerance and gender warfare are the issues addressed in a unique new composition for orchestra, voice and narrator commissioned for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's 100th anniversary.
Frank Proto and John Chenault have produced a performance piece as original and innovative in form as it is provocative and controversial in content. From the opening segment which introduces the two principal performers, who often change characters throughout the piece, to the closing monologue, Ghost In Machine explores America's relationship with the media and its exploitation of society through manipulation of its messages of violence, misogyny and racism.
Ghost In Machine, called by Proto and Chenault an "American Music Drama," uses arias, text and instrumental music to take the audience on a journey similar to that of a viewer flipping through the channels of a television set. Characters such as a news reporter, televangelist and game show host populate the work and serve as the various manifestations of the ghost in the machine.
The performances are part of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra "Multi-cultural Awareness" projects whose goals include increasing involvement of members of the minority community in CSO programs and activities.
