Today : world première of Hannah Lash's 'Beowulf' in Boston

Today, Guerilla Opera presents the world première performance of Hannah Lash's opera Beowulf, with a libretto by the composer, at the Boston Conservatory (Zack Box Theater).

It is the composer's first opera. The libretto is based on the Old English epic poem written between the 8th and early 11th century by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. The libretto investigates what it means to be a hero.

Beowulf is a doctor caring for his elderly mother and suffering from Post-Traumatic Stresses upon his return from a recent war. (reproduced from the Guerilla Opera website)

The cast includes baritone Brian Church (Beowulf), soprano Aliana de la Guardia (Mother) and tenor Brendan Buckley (Nurse). Andrew Eggert directs. The singers are accompanied by clarinet, saxophone, violin and percussion.

The performance of this chamber opera in 2 acts should last about 80 minutes. The production program, synopsis and libretto can be downloaded from the Guerilla Opera website.

In 2006, another opera with a libretto after the same poem was composed by Elliot Goldenthal and directed by Julie Taymor. Commissioned by Los Angeles Opera, it was given its world premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on June 8, 2006.

May 15th, 2015 : world première of 'Pedr Solis' by Per Bloland in Boston (MA)

Today Per Bloland's new opera, Pedr Solis, with a libretto by Paul Schick in English and Old Norse languages will be performed in Boston (MA).

The opera is a commission of Guerilla Opera, and performances will take place at the Zack Box at the Boston Conservatory. The libretto (which can be downloaded from the Guerilla Opera website) is based on The Tower, a play by Hugo von Hofmannsthal and the life of Norwegian author Pedr Solis in the late 1960s.

A figure is written into a structure located in a timeless mythic landscape somewhere in the north of Norway. He explores its modernist architecture, but increasingly the irrational encroaches, and order disintegrates. Pedr’s novel character is released from captivity and undertakes to overthrow the author and usurp his role in Oslo. The revolution succeeds, but Edda forces incipient at the borders burst in to subsume the story. The Norwegian god Loki soliloquies. (reproduced from the Guerilla Opera website)

The orchestra consists of five musicians playing clarinets, violin, saxophones, percussion and electronics. The singers are mezzo Carrie Cheron (Doctor), baritone Brian Church (Pedr Solis), soprano Aliana de la Guardia (Adrian) and countertenor Douglas Dodson (Ignis). All together as a chorus they also incarnate Loki. Laine Rettmer directs.

The first performance will be streamed live on the Guerilla Opera website.