KAMALA SANKARAM.
a composer and performer who moves freely between experimental music, sound installation, and contemporary opera
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY.
As a composer/performer, Kamala Sankaram is known for her “blazing high notes” (The Wall Street Journal,) and her “strikingly original” (New York Times) music. She has created work for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (as 2023 artist-in-residence), an opera for the trees of Prospect Park (as winner of the 2021 Creative Time Open Call), an augmented reality music walk for Van Cortlandt Park, a techno-noir featuring live datamining of the audience, and the world’s first virtual reality opera, among other pieces. Commissioned include the Glimmerglass Festival (as 2022 artist-in-residence), Washington National Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, the PROTOTYPE Festival, and Minnesota Opera, where she is currently a composer-in-residence. As a performer, notable appearances include Anthony Braxton’s TRILLIUM E, TRILLIUM J, GTM (Syntax) 2017, and THEATRICAL IMPROVISATIONS; Meredith Monk’s ATLAS with the LA Philharmonic, and The Wooster Group’s LA DIDONE. Kamala is the leader of Bombay Rickey, an award-winning operatic Bollywood surf ensemble.
ARTIST INTERVIEW.
Stay tuned for the interview, to be released on Jun 8.
One is the pipeline problem: larger companies are hesitant to hire artists who don’t have a track record in the field due to the amount of risk each new project entails. As a small company, we can be much more nimble in taking on the risk of working with a new artist. Thus, we can provide that crucial first or second project to those who want to work in the field and are building up a resume.
Together Sankaram and Handel create a
SUPERBLY PACED STORY
and a
A THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORLD
OPERA NEWS
GALLERY.
Discover photos and videos from Kamala's work.
CREDITS: LOOKING AT YOU, Composed by Kamala Sankaram, Libretto by Rob Handel, Developed with, Co-Choreographed, and Directed by Kristin Marting, Photos by Paula Court; Headshot by Daniel Welch; THE JUNGLE BOOK, Composed by Kamala Sankaram, Libretto by Kelley Rourke, Photos by Scott Suchman; TAKING UP SERPENTS, Composed by Kamala Sankaram, Libretto by Jerre Dye, photos by Karli Cadel; THE MUTABLES, Direction and Script by Kat Mustatea, Music by Kamala Sankaram, Photos by Maria Baranova; RISE, Libretto by A.M. Homes, Composed by Kamala Sankaram, Photo by Scott Suchman.