Pepito (2019)

Pepito is available on all major streaming services, with a few listed below. Purchasing the album through bandcamp allows for the highest quality audio.

Comedy | 22 minutes
4 Singers
14 instrumentalists

Pepito, a lonely shelter dog, misses his old family and his old life. Camila and David, young married professionals, are searching for the perfect dog. As the cracks in Camila and David's marriage deepen, Camila and Pepito form an unshakeable bond.

Originally premiered by the Washington National Opera at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in January, 2019. Original cast recording featuring Alexandra Nowakowski (Camila), Alexandra Christoforakis (Angie), Joshua Blue (David), and Samuel Weiser (Pepito)

Purchase album: https://nickbenavides.bandcamp.com/album/pepito (also available on apple music, spotify, and all major streaming services)

Purchase sheet music: https://bcpmusic.org/products/nick-benavides-pepito

music by Nicolás Lell Benavides
www.nicolasbenavides.com

libretto by Marella Martin Koch
www.marellamartinkoch.com

Commissioned by the Washington National Opera at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and first produced at the Kennedy Center during the 2018/19 season.

Pepito has also been produced at The Nashville Opera, Utah Opera, Shreveport Opera, New Opera West, Texas Christian University Opera Studio, Opera del West, and the University of Southern California Opera Studio.

Singers (in order of appearance):

Samuel J. Weiser, bass
Joshua Blue, tenor
Alexandra Nowakowski, soprano
Alexandra Christoforakis, mezzo-soprano

Ensemble:

Emma McCartney, flute/piccolo
Holly Hu, oboe
Max Opferkuch, clarinet/bass clarinet
Lieza Hansen, bassoon
Matthew Lee Otto, horn
Cameron Wilkins, trumpet
Aidan Ritchie, trombone
Mary LaBlanc, percussion
You Zhao, piano
Kate Outterbridge, violin
Nicholas Bentz, violin
Erica Zappia, viola
Javier Iglesias-Martín, cello
Rebecca Lawrence, double bass
Nicolas Lell Benavides, conductor

Audio

Zach Miley Productions
www.zachmiley.com

Video (recording session)

Maggie Beidelman
www.maggiebe.com

Additional Footage
Tyler Eschendal

Video (animation):
Animation by Esperanza Guevara and Connor Jacobs
Character Design: Chun Chun Chang
Producers: New Opera West, Emily Thebaut

Recorded in the Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld Symphonic Hall,
University of Southern California

Principal Donors

Alan Savada & Will Stevenson
Albuquerque Hispanic Heritage Committee
Jake Heggie

Foundation Support
Presser Foundation Graduate Music Award

Donors
Anonymous
Bryan Lin
Cindy Phillips & Thomas Martin
Dmitry Glivinskiy
Eddie Garcia
Eleanor Hooker
Ellen & Eric Choate
Gemma Peacocke
Hans & Bryn Boepple
Isabel & Philip Ebiner
Justin Muehlmeyer & Dorca Lee
Katherine Brennan
Kelley Rourke
Kindra Scharich
Linda & Gilbert Benavides
Linda & Will Schieber
Lisa Oman & Michelle Gilkey
Luke Ellard
Patricia Plude
Patrick Vaz
Rafael & Carmen St John
Richard & Sandra Koch
Rob Ainsley
Rosemary Garcia
Sabrina Skacan
Samuel St John
Stephen Grenholm
Steve Fletcher
Susan Thieme
Valerie Beidelman & John Armstrong
Valerie St John & Charles Leder
Vicki & Kevin Beidelman