Puppets Join Bach Choir For “The Nightingale”

The Mock Turtle Marionette joins the Bach Choir of Bethlehem in the world premiere performance of the Hans Christian Andersen tale "The Nightingale." Moreover, "The Nightingale's" original tale is set in Japan but their version is set in 17^th century Germany which is perfect for J.S. Bach's great choral and instrumental music to contribute to the central theme of the story.

However, the project is the first collaboration for the Bach Choir and the Mock Turtle Marionette Theater. According to Bach Choir, the concert will be performed on February 26 at 3 p.m., at Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

The adaptation involves the Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, directed by Doug Roysdon and The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and Bach Festival Orchestra, directed by Greg Funfgeld. According to Morning Call, the concert featured 40 members of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and 21 members of the Bach Festival Orchestra.

For the project, director Doug Roysdon made new puppets and set in Bach's time of 17th century Germany. Roysdon made a puppet crossed between rod puppets and bunraku which he termed "bun-rod-ku".

The puppets are 4-feet tall and it's operated by two puppeteers. The voice of the nightingale will be the virtuoso recorder player Tricia Van Oers.

The actors include assistant director Anna Russell, Willow Reichard-Flynn, Sabrina DeWeerdt, Jamil Joseph, Grace Spruiell Hochella, Sonya Hennet, and Joe Ferraro. For the musical story includes "Engels Nachtigaltje" by Jacob van Eyck, "Le Rossignol en Amour" by Francois Couperin and as well as the recorder duet accompanying Bach's "Sheep may safely graze."

William Bolcom's "Graceful Ghost Rag" will be played by Funfgeld on harpsichord and Elizabeth Field on violin. The choir will also sing "Lachrimosa" from Mozart's Requiem.

The concert will be repeated during the Bethlehem Bach Festival May 12-13 and 19-20 so it can reach a wider audience. The audience members can meet the puppets, puppeteers, conductor, and selected members of the orchestra in the lobby.

TagsThe Mock Turtle Marionette, Bach Choir of Bethlehem, The Nightingale, Hans Christian Andersen Tale, Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, Zoellner Arts Center, Doug Roysdon