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ABOUT THE WORK
Russian anarchist and philosopher Peter Kropotkin’s 1892 critique of capitalism, The Conquest of Bread, is the inspiration for this special May Day choral performance, featuring an eclectic assortment of singers—grassroots organizers, professional vocalists, wayward performance artists—to vocalize excerpts of Kropotkin’s 19th century work and intone his often repeated call: “Well-Being for All!” While Kropotkin’s refrain may seem simple, in a world marked by increasing brutality and unevenly distributed life chances, it continues to prove elusive.
The Conquest of Bread will be performed by Sing in Solidarity, a socialist movement choir; an ensemble of vocalists that includes Gelsey Bell, Hai-Ting Chinn, leiken, and Amirtha Kidambi; a group of movement and performance artists the includes mayfield brooks, Jennifer Miller, and Anh Vo; and some surprise guests.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Ethan Philbrick is a cellist, performance artist, and writer. He holds a PhD in performance studies from New York University and has taught performance theory and practice at Pratt Institute, Muhlenberg College, New York University, Wesleyan College, Yale University, and The New School. He is currently performance curator at The Poetry Project. In 2023, Philbrick published Group Works: Art, Politics, and Collective Ambivalence with Fordham University Press. He is part of the musical-theatrical project DAYS and has presented solo and collaborative performances in NYC and across the country. His musical performances have been called “overwhelmingly beautiful” and “extremely strange” in The Nation and his writing has been characterized as “rich and fascinating” in e-flux. ethanphilbrick.com
SUPPORT
NYU Skirball’s programs are made possible in part with support from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the Howard Gilman Foundation; Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels; Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater; Collins Building Services; Harkness Foundation for Dance; Villa Albertine; General Delegation of the Government of Flanders to the USA; Goethe Institut; Austrian Consulate General New York; Marta Heflin Foundation; as well as our valued donors through memberships, commissioning, and Allies for Arts Access Fund support.