new "fair isle" artwork by chess albaneze

April 29, 2025

( Image: "Fair Isle" logo and artwork by Chess Albaneze )

"Fair Isle", a fifteen-minute orchestral "mini" opera by composer Mary Bichner and librettist John J King, now has beautiful new cover art by visual artist and composer Chess Albaneze!  Thank you so much to Chess for creating this lovely image to pair with the opera.

Inspired by an episode in the life of American illustrator/author Edward Gorey, “Fair Isle” tells the tale of Ted (Edward Gorey) and Tom, two friends in the midst of a month-long trip through the Scottish Isles. With Tom, Ted’s heart swells like a storming sea, but – as Ted searches for the right words – Tom’s feelings remain firmly planted on earthy matters.

Although not yet recorded, you can listen to a MIDI-instrument version of "Fair Isle" paired with its libretto, in the following video:

For more info on "Fair Isle", including access to a copy of the libretto and score, you can visit the official project page right here.

Thanks so much again to Chess for this beautiful artwork, and wishing everyone a lovely end to their April!