BORUT KRŽIŠNIK

videos:
Love Song No2
used in Gigante’s METAMORPHOSIS, adapted/written/choreographed by Isabelle Kralj, inspired by Franz Kafka’s story, with music by Borut Kržišnik.

Love Song No1
an excerpt taken from the album A LIFE IN SUITCASES (Claudio Records, 2012), and Borut’s score for Peter Greenaway’s TULSE LUPER SUITCASES films and projects.

Borut Kržišnik is a Slovenian composer of contemporary music, based in Ljubljana.  He graduated in Psychology from the University of Ljubljana but devoted himself to music. Borut has a diverse, wide-ranging approach to music and he integrates live playing and music software on a computer platform, breaking free from the confines of specific methodologies. Intensity, diversity and exciting changes are the main characteristics of his music. Avant-garde or popular, underground or academic, tonality or atonality, these are the extremes between which he moves easily. Using a polyglot musical language, the composer weaves a thread through all these contrasts and introduces them to us with inspiring optimism.

We are always thrilled to have the honor of working with Borut’s music. It is exciting and inspiring and so often “just perfect” for the work!

Gigante productions:
Metamorphosis (2018)

Also
I Still Don’t Know (2005)  work by Isabelle Kralj performed in Slovenia
I Still Don’t Know (2008)  appeared in Janet Lilly’s “Have A Seat” show in Milwaukee

for more:  http://www.borutkrzisnik.si/

ANDY KIRSHNER

video link:
Museum of Life and Death (excerpt)
written, composed and directed by Andy Kirshner
performed by Mark Anderson & Isabelle Kralj
choreography and movement direction by Isabelle Kralj
vocal performance and video by Andy Kirshner

Andy Kirshner is an American composer, performer, writer, and media artist, and is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, from where he also holds a doctorate in music composition.  Kirshner’s music-theater works include The Museum of Life and Death, a science fiction “interdisciplinary theater work” based on the medieval morality play Everyman, which he created and presented in collaboration with Theatre Gigante in 2006.  Other theatre works include An Evening with Tony Amore for jazz voice and orchestra based on the persona of Frank Sinatra, Who It Is, a one-man musical about race and nationalism; the opera-oratorio The Watchtower inspired by apocalyptic TV newscasts and the Book of Isaiah;  Dr. Nathan Feelgood In Person, an operetta for 10-piece blues band and a singing psychiatrist; and a cold-war musical for children.  Kirshner has also directed multiple films, including his 2016 feature debut, the musical-comedy Liberty’s Secret, which Kirshner describes as “a traditional movie-musical – with a lesbian-political twist.”  Andy lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Theatre Gigante feels fortunate to count Andy as a friend and collaborating artist!  He has presented and performed with Gigante on three different occasions.

Gigante productions:

Between You and Me (2000) performed an excerpt from his full-length work Who It Is
Dead Poet’s Theatre (2002) performed another excerpt from Who It Is

Co-produced by Andy Kirshner, University of Michigan and Theatre Gigante:
Museum of Life and Death (2006) write, composed, designed media art, directed

For more: http://www.andykirshner.com

LESLIE FITZWATER

photo from Theatre Gigante’s PIAF (scenery by Schomer Lichtner)

video link:
La Vie en Rose, sung by Leslie Fitwater
accompanied by Paula Foley Tillen (piano), and Tom Kanack (accordion)

Milwaukee’s sweetheart performer, Leslie Fitzwater, has performed with Theatre Gigante umpteen times.  Leslie’s career spans opera, theater, Music Theater, cabaret, and mime, and her roles have been as diverse as Paddington Bear and Carmen.  While she has played her share of well-known characters, she is best known for her portrayal of the French chanteuse, Edith Piaf, in her one woman show, Edith Piaf Onstage. Leslie is a private voice and acting coach, has given seminars on vocal production for the young singer, has taught Voice and Speech at First Stage Theatre Academy, and has been an adjunct voice faculty member at Pius XI High School since 2007. 
One of Gigante’s favorite partners in crime, here is a list of Gigante shows in which Leslie has performed:

MDT Meets Mozart (1989)
A Soldier’s Tale (1991)
5^th Anniversary (1992)
It’s A Wonderful Life (1996-1998)
10^th Anniversary (1998)
It’s A Wonderful Life (2002)
PIAF (2003)
Fair & Balanced (2004)
Peter & the Wolf & the One Man Band (2005-ongoing)
The Beggar’s Opera (2009)
The Lears (2010)
Screwball Love (2014)
Woyzeck (2016)
Quorum (2016)
Enemy of the People (2019)
The Beggar’s Opera (2019)

During the pandemic, we will be taking the opportunity to reflect on past productions and the many wonderful composers and musicians we have had the honor of collaborating with and the pleasure of presenting. We will post links to the work of these wonderful artists – one at a time, every 2-3 days – so that we can all watch, listen, and enjoy.

RUBEN PIIRAINEN

video link:

Sonata in D major, 1st movement by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, performed by Ruben Piirainen

Ruben Piirainen is a Milwaukee-based pianist, music director, vocal coach, composer, and restaurant owner (Bay View’s Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery). He was on the music staff of the Florentine Opera for six seasons, presented a recital of new operatic works at the National Opera Center in New York, and performed solo recitals with opera stars Alyson Cambridge and Noah Stewart. He has worked with numerous companies, including Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Skylight Music Theatre. His original one act children’s opera A Busy Bee was commissioned and premiered by the Florentine; and he has received commissions for compositions from Skylight Music Theatre and UWM.  He is a recording artist with Hal Leonard Corporation and has been on the faculties of Interlochen Arts Camp, Bluffton University, and Bowling Green State University.

We are happy Ruben came on board for Gigante’s The Beggar’s Opera and we hope to continue our relationship with this talented, smart, and generous musician-of-many-trades!

The Beggar’s Opera (2019)

For more: https://piirainen.tumblr.com/