Contemporary Opera Marin

January 11th, 2024 - 1:14pm

Contemporary Opera Marin

Paul Smith, director

Contemporary Opera Marin, the opera program of College of Marin, Paul Smith director, performs Kurt Weill's American folk opera Down in the Valley. Originally composed as a radio opera in 1945, it was revised for the stage in 1948 using American folk songs for both the chorus (in gorgeous harmonizations) and the principal singers. It is a drama of young love and the compromises of life. The performance opens with several "propaganda" songs Weill wrote in collaboration with leading Broadway lyricists, that were used in music revues that travelled to factories in the early 40's as part of the war effort.

Performing Arts

Contemporary Opera Marin