The Canticle of the Black Madonna

Abstract

The Canticle of the Black Madonna is an original opera-oratorio in two acts, comprising 27 pieces for six operatic soloists, mixed chorus, and chamber orchestra. It is based on an original libretto by Tiziana DellaRovere and is approximately two hours in duration. The Canticle of the Black Madonna combines elements of numerous musical traditions—including medieval organum, baroque oratorio, and both classical and contemporary chamber opera—to tell the story of a fictional American soldier returning from Afghanistan to his wife in Louisiana, the challenges they face to their marriage and livelihood as they struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, the ecological and socioeconomic consequences of the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, and the healing transformation they ultimately undergo at the hands of a mysterious divine figure called The Black Madonna.