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Photograph courtesy of Linus Lau and Daniel Lee
The cast of 'The Release,' a one-act opera writen by De Anza students Linus Lau and Daniel Lee, pose for a picture. Back row: Lau, Michael Peach, Lee, Ann Assarson, Andy Roberson, Alan Barreca, Jessica Lee, Beth Ferlic, Juan Regaro. Front row: Pat Leveque and Meghan McCormick.
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Musical duo teams up to compose, perform opera
By Michelle Alaimo
What started out as a senior thesis project has blossomed into something much more for longtime friends Linus Lau and Daniel Lee. One year after the standing room only debut of their opera, The Release, Lau and Lee, both 22, are seeking funding to release their creation on compact disc.
"The scale of this project has far exceeded what I ever thought it would be," Lee said.
The successful production began in early 1998, when Lau thought up some characters and a simple story line. Soon after, he contacted his friend, Lee, whom he has known since attending Resurrection School in eighth grade.
The duo then each set out to do what they know best--Lee wrote the libretto, also known as the opera script, while Lau composed all of the one-act opera's music. By the middle of 1999, the two Sunnyvale residents had completed Lau's senior thesis for Santa Clara University.
The Release is the story of a modern day love triangle that takes place over New Year's Eve in New York. In the opera, Jack, who is married to Eve, is devastated when his wife has an affair with a bartender named Pete. Tragedy ensues from the betrayal, as the story is portrayed through music. The opera uses only five instruments, four singers and some extras to tell its story.
"It tells a really good story in a really interesting way," Lee said of the first libretto he has ever written.
Neither of the creative duo expected the response they received to the one time showing on Feb. 27, 2000, at Santa Clara University. Lau said SCU's theater was filled to standing-room capacity, and some opera goers had to be turned away.
Lau confessed that had he known the tremendous response his work would receive, he would have scheduled The Release to run for more than one night.
One year later, the duo is seeking thousands of dollars to fund a CD release of their masterpiece. The Frachesa Group has signed on to distribute the opera, Lau said, but more money is needed to finish studio recording and to pay for the distribution.
Until now, Lau said they have used money from their own pockets and a few small investors to pay for studio time. He said he's keeping his fingers crossed that, with additional funding, the CD can be released by the end of the year.
In the meantime, both Lee and Lau are also working on a number of other projects.
Lau, who began playing piano at age 4, and composing at age 10, plans to attend graduate school for film production. After he graduated from SCU in June, he took more classes--this time for film production at De Anza College in Cupertino. More recently, Lau said he wrote compositions for two documentaries, one for SCU and the other for a Modern Museum of Art documentary that might air on A & E cable network.
Lau is also collaborating with Lee on another project. Lee is writing and directing a film adaptation of The Most Dangerous Game, due out in June for which Lau is writing the music.
Lee, who two years ago was a finalist in the National Poetry Slam competition, has already been commissioned to direct another independent film for a company in Los Angeles in June, after he graduates from SCU.
And the two creative geniuses already have a head start on their ultimate goal, to work somewhere in the film industry. Each has his own company. Lee's is Arrowhead Productions and Lau is one-half of San Pictures Productions company.
For more information on how to help fund the CD of 'The Release,' visit www.franchesa.com/AR.html.
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