Seven Rabbits on a Pole is an opera by composer Pasquale Tassone, based on the play by John C. Picardi. Set in rural America during the early twentieth century, the work tells the story of an Italian immigrant family striving to build a better life amid economic hardship, social prejudice, and the challenges of assimilation. At its center is a dedicated farmer whose dreams of prosperity are tested by forces beyond his control, forcing him and his family to confront questions of identity, belonging, resilience, and sacrifice. The opera's evocative title serves as a powerful symbol of both survival and the difficult realities faced by generations of immigrants seeking opportunity in a new land.

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra will perform selected scenes from Seven Rabbits on a Pole in a special workshop presentation. This performance will be professionally recorded to create promotional materials that the composer can use when presenting the opera to opera companies and producers for future staging opportunities.

Here are Tassone's thoughts on writing the opera:
Almost twenty years ago I saw a performance of John Picardi's play Seven Rabbits on a Pole and I was moved enough by the performance to seek him out and ask whether he would be interested in turning it into an opera. At that time, John was immersed in writing a series of plays about the Italian immigrant experience and his most well-known play was The Sweepers, which is part of that series. He told me that he did not feel comfortable writing an opera libretto, but graciously gave me permission and encouragement to pursue the project. Never having written an opera before, I began to search for a librettist and in a strange turn of events, after an internet search, many emails and a phone conversation, when the time came to meet with the person who would eventually become the librettist, I discovered to my great surprise that not only did we both live in Arlington MA but we literally lived a few blocks from each other.

We both found the play very interesting for various reasons. 

Having grown up in an immigrant Italian household, the family dynamics, the mixture of old Italian customs and mores with the new American ways resonated with me.  After meeting Elizabeth she mentioned that although the play takes place in the 1930s, the themes explored in the story are very relevant today: a mentally challenged child, immigrant assimilation, and the issue of abortion. In 2011 the Longy School of Music's opera department presented, as a graduate student project, what existed at the time of Seven Rabbits on a Pole: a short performance of roughly the first scene of the opera that exists today. After that performance, the libretto was restructured; the result is what we have today.

By supporting this project, you are helping bring an important new American opera to life. Seven Rabbits on a Pole tells a deeply human story of immigration, perseverance, and the pursuit of opportunity—themes that continue to resonate with audiences today. New operatic works rarely have the opportunity to be heard, recorded, and developed, making community support essential to their success.

Your donation will help the Lowell Chamber Orchestra present and professionally record selected scenes from the opera, creating a high-quality artistic document that the composer can use to introduce the work to opera companies, producers, and presenters. This recording represents a critical step in the opera's journey from manuscript to full production.

By contributing, you are not only supporting a talented living composer and local musicians; you are investing in the creation of new cultural works that reflect the stories, struggles, and aspirations of immigrant communities. Together, we can help ensure that this powerful story reaches broader audiences and becomes part of the future of American opera.

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra was founded on a simple belief: great music should belong to everyone. Every season, we remove financial barriers by offering free admission to our concerts, ensuring that students, families, seniors, and those facing economic hardship can experience live orchestral music regardless of their ability to pay. In a time when the arts are increasingly out of reach for many, we remain committed to keeping our doors open to all. For some audience members, an LCO concert is their first experience with classical music; for others, it is one of the few cultural opportunities they can afford. Your support helps make those moments possible.

Thanks for your help!