Professor Debuts Trans-Media Opera in Miami

Joey Bargsten, Ph.D., a professor at 911�Թ�’s School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, saw his trans-media opera, “MelanchoLalaland,” make its world premiere.

By na | 9/15/2015

Joey Bargsten, Ph.D., a professor at 911�Թ�’s School of Communication and Multimedia Studies at the Davie campus, recently watched his trans-media opera, “MelanchoLalaland,” make its world premiere at the Miami Beach Cinematheque.

In late 2013, Bargsten, composer of “MelanchoLalaland,” won a Knight Foundation Knights Art Challenge grant to complete his trans-media opera.

“MelanchoLalaland”focuses on the off-beat relationships between executives who run Melancuria, Inc., a global corporation that specializes in anti-melancholia drugs and self-pleasure technologies, and how they deal with mobs of protesters, disgruntled employees, and dissatisfied lovers, among many others. This production stars professional singers and dancers in a live mix with video, animation and digital music. According to Bargsten, this work has as much in common with pop and karaoke as it has with traditional opera.

Support for“MelanchoLalaland” was provided by 911�Թ�’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Advisory Board; The Bailyn Foundation; The Miami Foundation and The Avid Corporation.

Bargsten is quickly garnering print, TV and radio media coverage for “MelanchoLalaland.” This summer, the Sun-Sentinel published a feature on the opera, and PBS-affiliate TV station WPBT Channel 2’s “Art Loft” broadcasted a segment on Bargsten and “MelanchoLalaland.” National Public Radio-affiliate station WLRN-FM/91.3 also will air a news segment on Bargsten’s work sometime in September.

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