Search - Gino Robair :: I, Norton

This is the premiere recording of I, Norton, an opera based on the life of Joshua Norton who proclaimed himself Norton I, Emperor of the United States in San Francisco during the Gold Rush era. The libretto is based on his published decrees as well as his personal letters. Structurally, the opera is created in real-time during a performance, and the score combines a variety of composition and improvisational techniques so that each performance is different. The inspiration for the work includes the music of John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Frank Zappa, and Central Javanese gamelan, as well as current genres of electronica, such as glitch and noise. The overall ensemble includes 80 musicians, and the CD took a decade to complete.