Summary

This rebooted triptych of short operas is family friendly and full of fun, while paying tribute to the African tradition of storytelling for all ages. Sister Sparrow, Sister Robin and Madame Partridge retell the antics of Bre’r Rabbit and his nemesis Bre’r Fox in “Briar Patch,” “The Pot of Sense,” and “Madame Partridge and her Eggs.” A concert version of “Briar Patch” can be programmed unstaged on an orchestra concert with five soloists. Libretto by Carman Moore. The music blends African American musical styles of jazz, blues, and gospel with contemporary concert music sounds.

NOTE: Each story from the Tales from the Briar Patch is derived from African folk tales.  The character “Bre’r Rabbit” is actually the trickster, “Anansi the Spider,” of ancient Ghanaian folklore.  While many people associate him and his friends with Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories, the stories predate Harris and his stories.  The creators updated the language, using all animals to portray the story, with the trio of spirited birds narrating.  Producers find that the works rate well with all audiences and are especially useful for community discussions and outreach. 

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Development of Tales from the Briar Patch by Virginia Arts Festival John Duffy Institute for New Opera and American Opera Projects. Supported in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Friedrich Ludwig Diehn Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and The Aaron Copland Fund for Music.