Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra, poet/author/sculptor Barbara Chase-Riboud's second collection of poems, connects her visual and literary talents. Observing a Rembrandt sketch with the same title, Ms. Chase-Riboud was inspired to write a narrative dialogue between Marc Antony and Cleopatra framed by Plutarch's story.

The opera, Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra is taken from this wonderful book of poems. The opera’s libretto is a Dialogue of Sensuality that provides insights into the main characters’ thoughts and emotions.  The Setting is a timeless gathering place evoking images of real and shadowy beings or spirits depicting the emotion and thoughts of the texts being sung by Cleopatra, Marc Antony and the Greek Chorus while conveying the sentiments, sensations and passions suggested by the music performed by the live jazz quartet and chamber ensemble on stage. The libretto represents Flash Points of Destiny for the main characters.

Track List

• Prelude: Portrait of a Nude As Cleopatra
• Portrait of a Nude As Cleopatra
• In Your Cool Limbs
• You Are a Dangerous Woman
• Interlude: Sweet Steel
• Sweet Steel
• Interlude: Death Is Not Deaf
• Death Is Not Deaf
• Interlude: Love As I Had Dreamed
• Love As I Had Dreamed