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Ben Yarmolinsky


photo: ©2008 Bernstein/PennSound

Ben Yarmolinsky on LINEbreak

Complete program (28:56): MP3, RealAudio
Ben Yarmolinsky's art song rendering of the Miranda Warning (1:40): RealAudio

Ben Yarmolinsky, music; Charles Bernstein, libretto

Blind Witness: Three American Operas

published by Factory School, 2008

order book here

Yarmolinsy's preface to book, published in Jacket2

Blind Witness News (1990)

  1. International (3:42): mp3
  2. Against the Menace (Jill's Aria) (3:06): mp3
  3. National News (1:40): mp3
  4. Jack's Blues (3:08): mp3
  5. Local (2:06): mp3
  6. Financial (3:19): mp3
  7. The Story of a Man(2:25): mp3
  8. Weather (6:54): mp3
  9. Sports (2:50): mp3
  10. Closing (2:26): mp3
  • Jill Johns - Deborah Karpel, soprano
  • Jack James - Nathan Resika, bass
  • Jane Jones - Leandra Ramm, mezzo-soprano
  • John Jacks - Aram Tchobanian, tenor
  • Piano - Ishmael Wallace

    • Recorded December, 2005 at Gödelstring, Brooklyn, New York,December 2005. Engineered by Joel Hamburger. Image: Rachel Yarmolinsky Commissioned by American Opera Projects, where it was directed by  Grethe Holby.


    Complete video (11:52): MOV


    This is a promo/excerpt produced and directed by Grethe Holby, from the original production in December 1990.
    Rondi Charlston - soprano, James Javore - baritone, Suzanna Guzman - mezzo, Lynn Randolph - tenor. Elizabeth Rodgers and Steve Tyler played synthesizers; Robert Black conducted.

    Allan Kozinn reviewed the show for The New York Times

    The Subject (1991)

    Scene One

    1. The Crystal Desk (4:35): mp3
    2. Scheduling Duet (2:19): mp3
    3. Jenny Midnight ’s Elegy (2:39): mp3
    4. Frames Analysis (5:28): mp3
    5. Jenny’s Platform (2:49): mp3
    6. Normalcy (6:42): mp3
    7. The Introjection Tango (1:38): mp3

    Scene Two

    1. The Inquisitor (2:52): mp3
    2. Songs of Crossed Purposes (4:15): mp3
    3. Men's Talk (5:59): mp3
    4. The Subject (3:25): mp3
    5. Mommy (3:03): mp3
    6. The Children Are Quiet, the Horses Merry, & Everyone's Gone to Sleep (Subject’s Valediction) (3:36): mp3

    Complete video (47:17): MOV

    • Jenny Midnight, The Subject — Carla Wood, mezzo-soprano
    • Dr. Boris Frame, Psychoanalyst — Stephen Kalm, baritone
    • Prof. Daemon Dudley, Director of Social Correction, Center for Normalcy — Thomas Bogdan, tenor
    • Piano — Elizabeth Rogers
    • Video: Andrew Reichsman

    The Lenny Paschen Show (1992)

    1. Opening Monologue (10:22): mp3
    2. Monica Moolah (4:47): mp3
    3. Wherever Angels Go (3:14): mp3
    4. Paul Evangeline (2:19): mp3
    5. Don't Get Me Wrong (3:46): mp3
    6. Remember to Dance (3:19): mp3
    7. Paul & Lenny (2:47): mp3
    8. How Dull You Are (2:15): mp3
    9. Maria Aquavita (2:16): mp3
    10. The USA (3:53): mp3
    11. The Show's Sensational (4:13): mp3
    12. I Can't Stop (1:24): mp3
    13. Conclusion (1:46): mp3

    Complete video (47:57): MOV

    • Lenny Paschen — Larry Adams, baritone
    • Monica Moolah —  Darynn Zimmersoprano
    • Paul Evangeline — Jeff Reynolds, tenor
    • Maria Aquavita — Jane Shaulis, mezzo-soprano
    • conducted by John Yaffé

    First presented by American Opera Projects, where it was directed by  Grethe Holby.

    From Charles Bernstein's Portraits Series: Ben: "Maybe Not", June 21, 2008

    Watch on Media.sas

    Ben Yarmolinsky
    Ben sat on the stoop across from my apartment.
    (mp4, 30 sec., 11.2 mb)


    May 5, 2008 Factory School book launch

    at the Medicine Show, New York

    Blind Witness News
    • Deborah Karpel, soprano
    • Nathan Resika, bass
    • Leandra Ramm, mezzo-soprano
    • Ishmael Wallace, piano

    Complete video (17:54): MOV

    The Subject
    • reading: Bernstein & Yarmolinsky
    • SilvieJensen, mezzo-soprano
    • Elizabeth Rogers, piano

      • note: Bernstein & Yarmolinsky read first, second half of video features Silvie Jenson's arias. Jensen plays Jenny Midnight, a psychiatric patient. In my reading with Ben, I read Jenny's part and Ben plays Dr. Boris Frame, psychoanalyst.

      Complete video (13:10): MOV


      The Lenny Paschen Show
      reading: Bernstein
      Silvie Jensen, mezzo-soprano
      Yarmolinsky, vocal and guitar

      Complete video (14:53): MOV


      Ben Yarmolinsky on PennSound Daily



      These recordings are being made available for noncommercial and educational use only. All rights to this recorded material belong to the copyright holders.

      (C) 2009 by Ben Yarmolinsky and Charles Bernstein.
      Distributed by PENNSound.