Classical Tuesdays in Old Town Tacoma: a conversation between poet and composer

Our next Classical Tuesdays in Old Town Tacoma event, a conversation between 2 artists, is available from February 8 onward at https://www.YouTube.com/classicaltuesdays.

Listen in as Greg Youtz, composer and professor of music at Pacific Lutheran University, and Zhang Er, poet, librettist, and professor at The Evergreen State College, discuss their collaboration on creating an opera - or two!

Together they produced, in 2016, an opera  titled "Fiery Jade" that tells of the lives of women across time and around the world, struggling in times of upheaval. And now, in 2020-21, they have again collaborated to produce a second opera titled "Tacoma Method" which portrays the 1855 expulsion of Chinese laborers, businessmen and families from Tacoma, Washington, led by the mayor. Perhaps our artists will discuss the recurrence of similar issues and events throughout history, especially as observed again in recent times.  

Zhang Er, poet, librettist

Greg has stated: I feel my composing is … in service to social/cultural ideas that I think need to be discussed. Although I respect the view that art can be a safe, attractive antidote to the troubles of the world, I am usually more interested in art as a medium for discussion of great ideas, whether they be humorous, deadly serious, or simply wonderfully interesting.

Greg Youtz, composer