opera
large
Jeanne (2009) 75 min. (in progress)
coloratura soprano, bass (also singing falsetto), tenor, mezzo, baritone; full orchestra
The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing
BEST WORLD PREMIERE 2023 - Chicago Tribune
ca. 110 min.
text by David Simpatico
lyric baritone, leggiero tenor, lyric tenor, coloratura soprano, mezzo-soprano, SATB chorus;
full orchestra (32-person)
Commissioned by American Lyric Theater
World Premiere: March 2023 PRESS CLIPPINGS
Watch a Video Excerpt COT 2019
medium
The Maiden Tower (2005) 40 min.
solo bass, solo soprano, solo tenor, actress; fl/picc, B-flat cl., fh, harp, piano, percussion (plus timpani), 2 vns, va, vc, db; computer electronics, quadraphonic speaker set-up
Three, Two, One- BANG! (2008) 25 min.
youth opera based on Macbeth
sung roles: 2 sop., 2 mezzo, 1 tenor, 1 baritone; spoken roles: 2 males and 2 males or females;
string quartet + piano
Commissioned by Long Leaf Opera, 2008
The Dragon (2010) 50 min.
children's opera based on the tale by R. Akutagawa
soprano, mezzo, tenor, bass, optional chorus and piano; also orchestrated: 3 flutists + percussion
Commissioned by North Carolina Opera
Seven Sisters (in progress) 90 min.
Text by Stephanie Fleischmann
4 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, 1 spinto
Watch a Video Sample: aria "Childless"
TWA [working title] - IN PROGRESS
Based on Twa Sisters, the ballad
Text by Jacqueline Goldfinger
read about the first workshop
JUSTINE F. CHEN
COMPOSER AND VIOLINIST
SAVE THE DATE:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SONG join us at the composer's round table in Cincinnati, OH 5/12/25
Justine's cycle of Asian Americana: ALIGHT, poetry of Ophelia Hu Kinney, sung by inspiring force of nature, soprano Jennifer Lien.
BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the stunning soprano Jeanai La Vita and pianist Justina Lee on their beautiful recital, and performance of my song with the words of revolutionary suffragist Crystal Eastman at the Bronx River Arts Center!
Check out our rave review from Gramophone of SHALLOW BREATH AND STEALTH
LISTEN on Spotify YouTube AppleMusic
BEST WORLD PREMIERE! Our "Fantastical, evocative, and nuanced" opera THE LIFE AND DEATH(S) OF ALAN TURING was named BEST WORLD PREMIERE by Chicago Tribune!
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