There are two versions :
E.G.: A Musical Portrait of Emma Goldman (1987) op.78 for female singer and singing pianist (2 acts, 90 min.);
Emma Goldman in Exile or Scenes from the Life of Emma Goldman for 3 female & 3 male singing actors, 1985-87 (2 acts, 2 hrs.)
Though technically a musical rather than an opera, it has had 50 productions, including a performance at the National Opera Association Convention at Northwestern University in 1991.
titled book & lyrics with Karen Ruoff Kramer
(except 7 numbers by composer alone)
previewed at Stanford University in Berlin 5/86
completion commissioned by Bel Canto Opera Workshop et al, 1986-87
1987 perfs:
Herbert Liebman Memorial Concerts, Vladeck Auditorium (Bronx);
WBAI,WEVD; Workmen’s Circle Branch (Manhattan);
Alchemical Theater (Manhattan);
Cornell University;
SUNY-Cortland; Fine Arts Museum of Long Island (Hempstead);
Jewish Currents Concert
1989 perfs:
Temple Emanuel (sponsored by University of Lowell),
Community Church of Boston,
Boston University,
Harvard College,
Brandeis University Festival
1990 perfs:
Columbia University;
Queens College;
Wellesley College;
Bryant Library, Roslyn;
WQXR’s "The Listening Room";
Midtown YM-YWHA (Manhattan);
International Institute for Social History, Amsterdam;
E.&W.Berlin;
Paris Cabaret;
Dartmouth College
1991 perfs:
Ethical Culture Society of N.Y. City;
Peninsula Library, Lawrence, L.I.;
Northwestern University (National Opera Assn convention);
WFMT (Chicago, Studs Terkel program);
American University (Jewish Studies Program);
San Francisco Modern Language Assn Convention,
KPFA (Dennis Bernstein) - Noe Valley Ministry, U.C./Berkeley
1992 perfs:
Alexander Berkman Conference, Pittsburgh;
UMass/Amherst Marxism and the New World Order Conference
1994 perf
(June 27, Emma’s 125th birthday): CWPost College
(School of Education, Library School Student Assn, McGrath Fund)
Cortland Memorial Library in New York has a video [No. VideoC HX843.7.G65 E3 1987] Emma Goldman’s life in exile and her political, social, and religious philosophy is expressed through music sung in the first person. Stills of fellow anarchists and leading intellectuals of the time are inserted throughout the production.
This page has been made possible thanks to the contributions of David Brown, Recollection Books and Dr. Leonard Lehrman.