Tom Baker

Tom Baker received a 2005 GAP to help offset the costs of the composition, arrangement, rehearsal and full production of The Gospel of the Red-Hot Stars, a one act chamber opera. Based on a text by author Margaret Atwood, this opera tells the story of “Half-Hanged Mary Webster” who was accused of witchcraft in the 1680’s in a Puritan town and survived an execution attempt. “This opera explores the idea of the witch hunt. As it has come to be seen in the persecution of so many scapegoats, it is a topic that is as relevant to us today as it was to Mary in 1680,” says Baker. The work chronicles Mary’s long night before being cut down the following morning and is scored for clarinet, percussion, contrabass and guitar, including two soloists.