by Mike Telin
The first time that composer Margi Griebling-Haigh read A.E. Coppard’s The Higgler, she knew the short story about life’s missed opportunities was fodder for an opera.
On Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 pm at Disciples Christian Church, Griebling-Haigh’s tragi-comic chamber opera The Higgler will receive its world premiere, directed by Marla Berg and conducted by Steven Smith.
The cast includes tenor Brian Skoog in the title role, soprano Gabrielle Haigh as Mary Sadgrove, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Frey as Mrs. Sadgrove, mezzo soprano Denise Milner Howell as Mrs. Witlow, and soprano Lisl Wangerman as Sophy Dawes. The production will be repeated on Sunday, June 8 at 3:30 pm. Tickets are available online.
I caught up with director Marla Berg by Zoom and began by asking her how she developed the concept for the new work. [Read more…]