AN INTERVIEW WITH A “PUPPET” AND HIS “MAKER”

An Interview with a “Puppet” and his “Maker” is a ventriloquism cantata/opera conceived by myself and Gareth Mattey, a fantastic writer, librettist, director and film-maker. The piece uses the illusive act of ventriloquism to rhetorically depict the power dynamics at play between two puppets, one called “Maker” and the other called “Puppet”, locked in an abusive relationship and a sinister, unseen Interviewer, who is represented by the instrumental ensemble. At the beginning of the piece, “Maker” and the audience believe that “Maker” is indeed the maker of, and therefore in control of, “Puppet”. However, through the piece, the audience discovers that the relationship is more complex. The piece documents their struggle for dominance. In the end, faced with his imminent loss of control over the relationship to “Puppet”, “Maker” violently destroys “Puppet” and himself. The pair are discarded onto a pile of other defunct puppets by the interviewer.

The piece is about how one asserts power, how one can be manipulated into believing one has power, and the hypocritical willingness to inflict the same power hierarchies that one has been a victim of onto others.

Email alextaymusic@gmail.com for interest in supporting the premier of An Interview!

A CANTATA IN THROWN VOICES (2021 - 2022) FOR TWO MEZZO-SOPRANOS AND SINFONIETTA

LIBRETTIST: GARETH MATTEY

PREMIER PENDING (contact Alex at alextaymusic@gmail.com if you want to support the premier of this piece!)