“Welcome to an opera that blurs the lines between the new and the old, fantasy and reality, and the afterlife. Designed to make the orchestra sound amazing, the singers sound lyrical, and the audience rise to their feet! Iudicium… “U” will be amazed!
In Latin, Iudicium means; trial, court, judgment, opinion, sentence — all relating to the trial between Timor, a demon, and a king, now a ghost, as hell pleads its case before the judge for the soul that slipped through the cracks. …Opera, often dismissed as outdated and impenetrable, holds a wealth of dramatic potential that can be reimagined as a vibrant story; by preserving its instinctively captivating musical tones, we free audiences from the labor of interpretation—after all, art should be as immediately cherished as a mother’s unconditional love.
“A predominantly syllabic libretto by C. J. Bartels, U’s poetic prose and timeless story of good and evil pair seamlessly with the stage-centric score.”
Music has a direct line of communication to emotion but you need to get people interested if you want to make the connection.
http://cjbartels.com/TheValley/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Iudicium-Opera-082019-e.pdf
Early in the process it is not always so easy to provide a sample, especially when on a budget. Finding an example of what one can expect in theatre can make all the difference when trying to get someone to believe you your project.
When Jan Tegtmeyer discovered that there were very few tuba concertos, he decided to write some. Below is an example of just one work he created in in-demand classic style.
Iudicium needed more than a hardcover book. Like everyone trying to put the word out, the opera needed a website that would provide enough information that an Artistic Director would sit up and take notice.
Providing ideas for staging is something that was requested. Considering the stage, budget, and production capabilities, these ideas were rendered and presented, along with the logo for the opera.
Iudicium will be premiered at the Golden Diana Festival in Yambol, Bulgaria on 7 April, 2025.
If you are looking for a design source that can cover all the bases, even playing some guitar, send us an email! C.J.B would love to hear from you and see if we can be of assistance.
C. J. B.