In anticipation of Vidas Perfectas, an all-new Spanish language version of Robert Ashley's classic made-for-TV opera Perfect Lives, Issue Project Room hosts a screening of three episodes from the original Perfect Lives (1983). The three episodes to be screened are the original 1983 versions of the first episodes that director Alex Waterman is re-creating as Vidas Perfectas, to be filmed on location in Marfa, Texas.
Following the screening, there will be an open Q&A between Vidas Perfectas composer Robert Ashley director Alex Waterman, and star Ned Sublette.
Perfect Lives was developed musically through live performances in Europe and America. “Blue” Gene Tyranny was Ashley’s first collaborator— his keyboard melodies and harmonies defined the character of Buddy. Tyranny and Ashley performed a chamber version of the piece many times together (including at The Kitchen in early 1978). Shortly after, The Kitchen commissioned Perfect Lives as an opera for television, the live version expanded to include richly layered orchestral tapes produced by composer Peter Gordon, and vocals by Jill Kroesen and David Van Tieghem.
In 1980, John Sanborn recorded the basic video tracks on location in Illinois according to the templates provided by Ashley’s score. From this material, The Lessons, a preview version of the opera (based on keyboard gestures by “Blue” Gene Tyranny) was produced through the TV Lab at WNET.
In the fall of 1982, a pre-sale was obtained from Channel Four Television in the UK, making possible the completion of Perfect Lives . John Sanborn, the television director, designed an elaborate shooting and editing plan for the visual elements of Ashley’s score. The post-production was completed August, 1983 at VCA Teletronics, under the supervision of Dean Winkler, who worked with Sanborn on image processing, and was the video- tape editor. Since its premiere on Channel Four in 1984, Perfect Lives has been broadcast throughout Europe and in various cities in the United States.
Vidas Perfectas is an all-new Spanish-language version of Robert Ashley's ground-breaking “television opera” Perfect Lives . With Ashley's blessing, Alex Waterman directs this all-new production, from a Spanish translation by Javier Sainz de Robles.
The singer-songwriter Ned Sublette stars as the opera’s narrator “R,” in the role originated by Ashley. Playing with him is “Buddy, The World’s Greatest Piano Player,” a unique all-piano role for Cuban virtuoso Elio Villafranca. Composer Peter Gordon, who collaborated with Ashley on the original incarnation of Perfect Lives , returns as music producer, playing live electronics and mixing. The chorus is Elisa Santiago, (appearing as Isolde, Gwyn, and Ida) and Abraham Gomez-Delgado (appearing as Will, Ed, and The Captain of the Football Team). Vidas Perfectas Premieres at the Irondale Theater in Fort Greene December 15-17, 2011.
