The Giver is a dystopian novel by Lois Lowry that presents a society that is first seen as utopian but is gradually revealed as a deeply flawed dystopian world. Pain and strife have been eliminated by the “sameness’ plan that eradicates emotional depth. Jonas, a 12 year old boy, is selected to inherit the memories of time and the emotional cornucopia of mankind. As knowledge and emotion is revealed to Jonas, he faces a dilemma inherent to this new world of wisdom and emotion; should he stay with his family, or run away to live a complicated life full of great beauty and love, but also pain and death; to stay and suffer in the shadow world where his family lives – a world without love, color, choices and knowledge, or to breath the free air of his new revelations?
The Giver was chosen by the Minnesota Opera Company as the first commissioned work for it’s Project Opera youth talent program. The Minnesota Opera commissioned Susan Kander to write the music and libretto for the new work. I was given the opportunity to photograph the two dress rehearsals on April 25th and 26th. It is with tremendous pleasure that I present a few images from the two wonderful performances. I would also like to thank the talented young singers for their musicianship and performance. The Giver, truly gave.
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