Amy Beth Kirsten
"...one of America's most innovative and visionary composers." BBC Music Magazine March 2019
Libretti
Amy composes text for her own musical works, and is sometimes a librettist for other composers. She also works occasionally as a researcher, reader, and text consultant.
the setting...
In the Bleak Midwinter
Current theatrical work-in-progress for actor, voice and electronics, medieval vocal trio, cello, and 3D projections. To learn more, click below.
Molly Netter, Hai-Ting Chinn, and Eliza Bagg (of HOWL) as Joan of Arc.
Savior
Savior (concept and libretto by Amy) is comprised of fragments of the trial transcripts of Joan of Arc, original text by Amy, and the poem "Les roses de Saadi" by Marceline Desbordes-Valmore. Click here to view the libretto and score. To learn more about the work, click below.
Terry Sweeney (of HOWL and Sandbox Percussion) as Don Quixote.
QUIXOTE
Amy's original concept/libretto for the opera, QUIXOTE, is inspired by El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha (parts I and II) by Miguel de Cervantes and includes original text by the composer, as well as fragments of poetry by Luis de Góngora, Ibn Faraj, Samuel Ha-Nagid, Walter Bargen, Ibn ‘Ammār, Jorge Manrique, and Cervantes. Click here to view the libretto and score. To learn more about the work, click below.
Matthew Duvall (of eighth blackbird) as Pierrot.
Colombine's Paradise Theatre
Colombine's Paradise Theatre, is an original concept/libretto inspired by the poetry of Isabella Andreini, and tells the story of Colombine who is caught in a haunted loop. Click here to view the full libretto and score. To learn more about the work, click below.
Ophelia Forever
Ophelia Forever, is an original concept/libretto inspired by Shakespeare's beloved character. Click here to view the full libretto. To learn more about the work, click below.
The Gift
The libretto for Christopher Theofanidis' work, The Gift, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Amy's original text is after the folktale, "The Gifts of Wali Dad" from India and Pakistan. To view the libretto click here. To learn more about the work, click below.
