RELEASED 9.9.2013
Tuija Takala writes: “The original idea […] is based on years of academic work on the ethics of genetics by Matti Häyry (prof at the University of Manchester, UK) and myself (University of Helsinki, Finland). Our combined publications in the field include more than a dozen international books and numerous scientific articles. The initial storyline was developed on the back of some of our research topics (savior siblings, immortality treatments, genetic engineering, and designer babies), but soon, as an American-Canadian-Finnish-Swiss collaboration, it became to include the expected human interest stories of rivalry, jealousy, love and death. To help with the music, Corky (Laing, the legendary drummer for Mountain) was invited to join us, and he has since become an integral part of the production team more generally”. She continues: “One of the key advantages of this project is its close connection with the academic world. The idea for the rock opera has already been presented at Universities in Finland and in the UK, and at international academic meetings. The response has been enthusiastic. For Summer 2013 we so far have two concert shows lined up at international academic conferences in Europe (Paris, France and Basel, Switzerland). In addition, there will be seminars and workshops in University settings in Europe. However, while the Opera rests on solid academic research, it is intended for the public at large. The University connections are important and provide a good starting point, but the music and the storyline are definitely meant for to reach larger audiences.” The synopsis for the opera is massively intriguing: ACT 1 Luke, a 110-year old blues singer, enters Happyville at the break of dawn, nails the contract that sentenced him to indefinite life through medical experimentation on Mr C’s office door, and takes a lethal overdose of pills and liquor. Luke’s ethereal body climbs up to the Terrace of the Gods. Gods are discussing the long-term lack of prayers from humankind. When they learn that Luke should have died years ago, and that he comes from Happyville, the town that has had the lowest prayer rate for years, they decide to send him back to find out what is going on. Coming back down, Luke witnesses, as a flashback, the creation of designer twins Tony and Alex by their parents and Mr C two decades ago. He also witnesses Tony’s return from college and an impromptu celebration in his honor. The twins and Tim, Ron, and Kevin (survivors of a lethal genetic disease) get together, reminisce about their teenage band and sing about love as they see it now. Tony sings about college girls and Alex sings about his secret love for Sophie, the young woman helping her Father at the Organic Vegetable Store and part-time assistant to Mr C. Celebrations are interrupted by Tina, Tim’s sister, who rages about people partying while her brother is dying. Luke asks what this is all about and he is told that, as a side effect of genetic treatment, Tim is now at the end stages of leukemia. Tim’s fate prompts Tony and Alex to evaluate their relationship with each other. Tina refuses to accept Tim’s imminent death and starts gathering people to be tested, so that one of them might help Tim. They all sign the standard disclaimer. But none of them is a match, not even Tony who is the last in line. Sophie helps Mr C in the procedure, and when the testing comes to an end, her eyes meet Tony’s. Love comes in many shapes and forms, but life is a fine line that connects the past, present, and future – how peculiar. During the night, Tim dies and wanders into the interspace of those who do not belong. There he meets a variety of other-worldly creatures. Next morning, Sophie and Tony arrive at the Vegetable Store, where Tony’s parents are shopping, and tell about their plans to be together. The news is not well received by Tony’s parents, who wanted their perfect child to have a perfect wife. After Tony and his parents leave, Sophie and her Father confront each other. Father, a single parent since Sophie was an infant, expresses his anguish about losing his daughter. Sophie expresses her resolve to change her life. The argument ends up with Sophie running away. ACT 2 Alex and Tony have put their old band together. While they are tuning up, it transpires that they are both in love with Sophie. A confrontation ensues. Contemplating Tim’s death, Tina realizes that she should move on, but does not know exactly how. She is briefly consoled by the feeling of sisterhood offered by the Constable and her colleagues, but finally finds her true spirit in her own self and individuality. Sophie has been missing since the confrontation with her father and townspeople are looking for her. The row with her father made her question who she really is and where she belongs. She has spent the time with her computer and is finding out about the genetically manipulated origin of Happyvilleans. She also uncovers the fact that she is not organic, as she had always thought, but genetically modified. Tony, the first one to find Sophie, sees this information over her shoulder and freaks out. He wanted Sophie to be natural and not manipulated like he is. Sophie is taken aback by his reaction and continues her search. Alex enters the scene and expresses his longstanding love for Sophie on deaf ears. Sophie gains access to the most secret file - it transpires that Mr C is Sophie's biological father! She pushes print and information starts pouring out from printers all around the town. Townspeople gather around to see what the commotion is about. As the printouts are distributed and read, anger towards Mr C grows among the crowd. Their secrets have been exposed, they have been cheated, they have been overcharged, and they have been deceived. As Mr C arrives to his office, he is confronted by an angry mob. Luke calls out for the Gods, and points out Mr C to them as the cause of the declining prayers. Gods strike Mr C dead with a lightning. People, aghast, freeze. After a moment of shock and disbelief, the townspeople gather themselves. The evil man died. It was not their fault, nothing is their fault, and, little by little, life goes back to normal.
Track Listing: Disc 1 1. God's March 2. Luke's Blues 3. Terrace of the Gods 4. Perfect Boy 5. Tony's Return 6. College Girls 7. Silent Dream 8. My Brother's Gonna Die 9. Open Up Your Imagination 10. Here Is Our Blood 11. Jupiter 12. Tim's Requiem 13. Not Good Enough 14. Father's Lament 15. Crying Shame 16. Journey 17. Sisterhood 18. Vital Stream 19. Revelations I 20. Meltdown 21. Revelations II 22. Eyes in the Mirror 23. Revelations III 24. Mr C's Demise 25. In This World