Alchemy of Making Paradise Interrupted

Jennifer Wen Ma, Ron Pierre Jean-Gilles and I made this performance as a discussion on the creation of the installation opera Paradise Interrupted. We wanted to show the mysterious, non-linear and alchemistic creative process behind its making.

Ron performed the various “voices” in Jennifer’s head while I provided images, vocal effects, music and video. Both of us were on stage and we had a free dialog during the performance.

The piece culminates with Ron conducting a vodou ceremony channeling the loa Papa Legba and asking him to open the gate that allows the flow of communication and inspiration between this and the other world. Ron was joined on stage by the roaring Underground Horns, a five-piece marching band.