The five arias recorded with a 34-piece orchestra and award winning opera singers is available on CD plus three bonus tracks ... live performances of songs planned for the completed opera about the day Woody Guthrie wrote his legendary song, This Land Is Your Land. 　　 　　On February 23, 1940, the world is at war. 　　Nations are in the midst of a global economic meltdown, Hitler has been slaughtering 　　millions of people, and influenza is killing millions more. The midwest of America has 　　being crippled by climactic changes that make “global warming” seem like a bad 　　breeze, displacing hundreds of thousands of families into California for jobs 　　promised but never realized. 　　Meanwhile, a troubled songwriter hitchhikes across America trying to make his way 　　home ... and on a dangerously cold, lonely day in Pennsylvania he began writing one 　　of the greatest songs of the 20th century. 　　This is an opera about the day Woody Guthrie wrote 　　“This Land Is Your Land.” 　　 　　2012 will be the centennial celebration of Woody Guthrie, America's Most Revered Folksinger. 　　 　　Woody: For the People is an opera of soaring melodies and an exciting full orchestra. It is the story of a down-and-out folksinger who journeys across America to find, not just his country, but himself. It is about an honest anger of wanting a better life for his kids, his friends and the common people he meets on the street. 　　 　　Woody: For the People is the story of two legendary American songwriters, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and the unyielding bond of friendship, bound in a tapestry of glory and music. Ultimately, it is about the very people Woody's songs were about. It's about our friends, our neighbors, our communities, our hometowns. It's about You, and Me. The opera is not about politics or political ideals, it is about the uncompromising passion of spirit that one little man had for an entire nation, for an entire generation ... all revealed in one little song. 　　 　　The opera is set on a single, historic date: February 23, 1940, the day Woody Guthrie wrote "This Land Is Your Land" as a response to Irving Berlin's popular tune "God Bless America." 　　 　　Woody: For the People will use a traditional symphony orchestra to employ innovative treatment of the string section to replicate the sound of Pete's banjo and other instruments. 　　 　　Written, Arranged & Produced by 　　Michael Johnathon 　　Music Director and Conductor 　　Dr. Jo Nardolillo 　　Orchestral Arrangements and Score 　　Michael Johnathon & Jo Nardolillo 　　For additional copies of this CD 　　or more information visit 　　www.WoodyGuthrieOpera.com 　　www.MichaelJohnathon.com 　　www.Woody100.com