Gans-Morse’s music deftly combined influences from the early Renaissance and Baroque (and even a bit of Dixieland jazz)… Contemporary opera is alive in Oregon, and not just that, it’s vital, addressing contemporary issues with determination and compassion.

James McQuillen, The Oregonian

Coverage of How Can You Own The Sky?

ArtsWatch

Oregon ArtsWatch

8/16/23: Siletz Bay Music Festival finale commemorates Oregon’s Trail of Tears
ArtsWatch

Oregon ArtsWatch

4/17/18: Rogue Valley Symphony preview: season of renewal
ArtsWatch

Medford Mail Tribune

4/18/18: Rogue Valley Symphony brings message of joy and hope

“How Can You Own The Sky? provides emotional catharsis on par with the great masterworks of the past. The dramatic score is brought to life through first-class orchestration and connects seamlessly with the poetry. Both the musicians and the audience were deeply touched by the experience.”

Martin Majkut, Conductor

Coverage of Six Feet Apart: Stories of Resilience and Transformation

Club Mod

All Classical Portland
August 2021

Covid Stories Set To Music Get (Online) World Premiere

The Jefferson Exchange
August 2021

Coverage of Tango of the White Gardenia

Oregon ArtsWatch 9/13/18: ‘Tango of the White Gardenia’: breaking the code

“Its messages are loud and clear and humane, and the art is fine enough to carry them. We need compassion, not competition when it comes to relationships. Not only can Tango of the White Gardenia turn people onto the sometimes-alienating ancient art form of opera, it also suggests that we can become better people.”

Angela Allen, Oregon ArtsWatch

‘Tango of the White Gardenia’: breaking the code

Coverage of Dreams Have No Borders

Ashland Sneak Preview

Jeffrey Gillespie for the Ashland Sneak Preview, fall of 2021 (click images to enlarge)

Coverage of The Canticle of the Black Madonna

Previews

Portland Monthly

9/4/14 Portland Monthly

‘The Canticle of the Black Madonna’ Wants to Redefine Opera

Portland Monthly

9/3/14 Willamette Week

Battle Cry: A new opera explores the traumatic aftermath of combat

Portland Monthly

9/2/14 The Oregonian

New opera, ‘The Canticle of the Black Madonna,’ takes on PTSD

Portland Monthly

7/2/14 Medford Mail Tribune

Local opera about PTSD draws national attention

Portland Monthly

6/19/14 Oregon ArtsWatch

Preview: Bringing Anima Mundi’s “Canticle of the Black Madonna” to life

Reviews

Roundup of Reviews

Read a roundup of all reviews on the opera’s website

James McQuillen of The Oregonian

An Oregon-grown opera addresses modern tragedies with rich music and compassion

Igor Levental, formerly of Opera News and Opera Canada

Review of The Canticle of the Black Madonna (PDF)

James Bash of Northwest Reverb

“The Canticle of the Black Madonna” – a fine effort by a new opera to tackle serious subjects

Rowan Wolf of OpEd News

Can the Power of Love Heal the Wounds of War? Veterans Meet the Black Madonna

Additional media appearances & profiles

ArtsWatch

Oregon ArtsWatch

Composer Ethan Gans-Morse:
Music as Social Voice
All-classical

Oregon Public Broadcasting

State of Wonder: Opera Exploring Veterans’ Journey To Premiere
NOA-SIO

National Opera Association

The Sacred in Opera Newsletter: Interview with Ethan Gans-Morse
OQ

Oregon Quarterly

An Opera is Born: …Ethan Gans-Morse provides a template for… a 400-year-old art form.
All-classical

All-Classical Portland

Northwest Previews:
The creators of The Canticle of the Black Madonna
JPR

Jefferson Public Radio

The Jefferson Exchange:
Afghanistan, PTSD, and The Gulf Spill–in Opera
OEN

OpEd News

Can the Power of Love Heal the Wounds of War? Veterans Meet the Black Madonna
UOSOMD

University of Oregon School of Music

Through the Eyes of Someone Different:
Alum’s Opera Spreads Awareness

Classical music is often rightly accused of ignoring the here and now. Fortunately, many younger composers are using classical and postclassical forms to help us understand the sometimes-unpleasant realities of the world we live in.

Brett Campbell, writing about Ethan Gans-Morse in Eugene Weekly