(L-R): Steven Stull as Bobby Wonders; Cree Carrico as Amara Bliss; David Neal as Snackwright in Robert Paterson and David Cote’s Cocoa Cantata.

Online premiere of Robert Paterson and David Cote’s Cocoa Cantata.

Cocoa Cantata is a response to J.S. Bach’s Coffee Cantata (c. 1734). A mini-drama with sparkling roles for soprano, baritone, and bass-baritone, the new work explores power and ethics in the multibillion-dollar chocolate industry, using Bach’s instrumentation.

Two chocolate executives, one from a global megabrand, the other a boutique chocolatier, square off over a hostile takeover, when a food scientist unveils a scientifically engineered supercocoa. One bite of it, and each “choco boss” is transformed.

Like the Bach, Cocoa Cantata will runs ca. 25 minutes, with soaring arias, spiky duets, and a rousing final trio. The tone is gently satirical, with contemporary allusions to fair-trade practices, the chemistry and symbolism of chocolate, and the marketing of pleasure. 

Cocoa Cantata will be delicious to anyone who loves chocolate—or tries to control their craving for it!

Cocoa Cantata was commissioned by Triphammer Arts Inc. with The Arts at Grace and Society for New Music.

Directed by Jeanne Goddard

CAST
AMARA BLISS: Cree Carrico, Soprano:
BOBBY WONDERS IV: Steven Stull, Baritone
SNACKWRIGHT: David Neal, Bass-Baritone

AMERICAN MODERN ENSEMBLE
Robert Paterson, Conductor
John Romeri, Flute
Geoffrey Burleson, Piano
Bryan Hernandez-Luch, Violin I
Victoria Paterson, Violin II
Hiroko Taguchi, Viola
Peter Sachon, Cello

Made possible in part with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, CNY Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund (A Statewide Theatre Regrant Program), and from the NYSCA Decentralization Program, administered by the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County. Tompkins Trust Company is the 2021 season sponsor for Triphammer Arts.