Today : world première of 'Mr. Burke and Mr. Hare' by Julian Grant in Boston (MA)

Today, the Boston Lyric Opera presents the world première performance of The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke and Mr. Hare, a chamber opera composed by Julian Grant, with a libretto by Mark Campbell based on real events.

Since 1986 and the chamber opera King's Children, Julian Grant has composed several works for the stage, including dance operas, chamber operas, children's operas and community operas.

Edinburgh, 1828. The city’s world-renowned anatomy schools suffer from a cadaver shortage. Two industrious men — William Burke and William Hare — find lucrative work by murdering disenfranchised citizens and selling their corpses to Dr. Knox’s academy. (reproduced from the BLO website)

The cast includes tenor William Burden (Dr. Robert Knox), baritone Jesse Blumberg (William Burke), bass-baritone Craig Colclough (William Hare), soprano Michelle Trainor (Helen McDougal), soprano Marie McLaughlin (Abigail Simpson) and baritone David Cushing (Donald). David Angus conducts the Chamber Ensemble from the Boston Lyric Opera Orchestra. David Schweizer directs.

The venue is the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The performance should last about 90 minutes.

Today : world première of 'Elizabeth Cree' by Kevin Puts in Philadelphia

Today, the Opera Philadelphia presents the world première of Elizabeth Cree, a chamber opera composed by Kevin Puts, with a libretto by Mark Campbell based on Peter Ackroyd's novel The Trial of Elizabeth Cree.

It is the composer's third opera after Silent Night (Saint Paul, Minnesota Opera, November 12, 2011) and The Manchurian Candidate (Saint Paul, Minnesota Opera, March 7, 2015).

Set in London in the 1880s, this highly suspenseful and theatrical opera interweaves several narratives: the trial of the titular heroine for the poisoning of her husband; a series of brutal murders committed by a Jack the Ripper-style killer; the spirited world of an English music hall; and, finally, some “guest appearances” by luminaries from the Victorian Age. (reproduced from the Opera Philadelphia website)

The cast includes mezzo Daniela Mack (Elizabeth Cree), baritone Troy Cook (John Cree), tenor Joseph Gaines (Dan Leno), baritone Daniel Belcher (Inspector Kildare) and soprano Deanna Breiwick (Aveline Mortimer). Corrado Rovaris conducts and David Schweizer directs.

The performance should last about 90 minutes. The opera will also be performed at the Chicago Opera Theater in February 2018.

Today : world première of William Bolcom's 'Dinner at Eight' in St. Paul (MN)

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première of William Bolcom's opera in 2 acts Dinner at Eight, with a libretto by Mark Campbell after George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's play.

William Bolcom's previous operas include McTeague (Chicago, 1992), A View from the Bridge (Chicago, 1999) and A Wedding (Chicago, 2004).

New York City, early 1930s. Manhattan socialite Millicent Jordan plans the perfect dinner party, but as her guests arrive, business intrigues and romantic entanglements are brought to light. (reproduced from the Minnesota Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Mary Dunleavy (Millicent Jordan), baritone Stephen Powell (Oliver Jordan), soprano Brenda Harris (Carlotta Vance), baritone Craig Irvin (Dan Packard), soprano Susannah Biller (Kitty Packard) and tenor Richard Troxell (Larry Renault). David Agler conducts the orchestra and chorus of the Minnesota Opera. Tomer Zvulun directs.

The performance should last about 2 hours, including one intermission.

Today : world première of Paul Moravec's 'The Shining', in St. Paul

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première performance of Paul Moravec's new opera, The Shining, with a libretto by Mark Campbell after Stephen King's novel.

It is the composer's second opera after The Letter (Santa Fe, 2009) based on the Somerset Maugham play.

As the Torrance family settles in at the infamous Overlook Hotel, Jack comes face to face with his own demons – real and imagined. Will he be able to protect his wife and son from the evil forces within the hotel ? (reproduced from the Minnesota Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Kelly Kaduce (Wendy Torrance), baritone Brian Mulligan (Jack Torrance), tenor Robb Asklof (Stuart Ullman, the hotel manager), Alejandro Vega (Danny Torrance), bass Arthur Woodley (Dick Hallorann, a cook) and tenor John Robert Lindsey (Lloyd, a bartender). Michael Chrisite conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Minnesota Opera. Eric Simonson directs.

The venue is the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St Paul, MN. The performance should last about 2 hours and 10 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

Today : World première of 'The Manchurian Candidate' by Kevin Puts in St. Paul (MN)

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première performance of The Manchurian Candidate by Kevin Puts, with a libretto by Mark Campbell after Richard Condon's novel. Performances will take place at the Ordway Theater.

 

It is Puts' second opera after Silent Night, first performed by Minnesota Opera on November 12, 2011.

An American soldier, decorated during the Korean War, is brainwashed into becoming an unwitting assassin in a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government. Can a fellow POW crack the code in time to stop him ? (reproduced from the opera website)

The cast includes Matthew Worth (Sergeant Raymond Shaw), Brenda Harris (Eleanor Iselin), Daniel Sumegi (Senator Johnny Iselin), Leonardo Capalbo (Captain Ben Marco), Adriana Zabala (Rosie Chayney), among others. Michael Christie conducts and Kevin Newbury directs.

The opera should last about 2 hours and 10 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.

Today : world première of Laura Kaminsky's opera 'As One' in New York (BAM)

Today, the Brooklyn Academy of Music presents the world première performance of Laura Kaminsky's first opera As One, commissioned by American Opera Projects.

 

 The libretto has been written by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed. The opera requires two singers and a string quartet.

As One explores the revelatory and redemptive journey of a transgender individual wrestling with profound ontological issues. As One challenges normative performance modalities while addressing the complex and multifarious concerns confronted by a significant outsider population.  It will be an impactful and artistically compelling response to a matter that resonates loudly today across the LGBT community specifically, and the rest of society more generally.  As One provides insights into both the personal and philosophical questions at the core of how personhood is defined, as well as into the compromised civil and humans rights of transgender individuals in the broader societal framework. (reproduced from http://www.laurakaminsky.com)

The opera will be performed by mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and baritone Kelly Markgraf as both sides of its sole transgender protagonist, Hannah, as she endeavors to resolve the discord between her self and the outside world. They will be joined by the Fry Street Quartet, with Steven Osgood conducting and Ken Cazan directing. Librettist Kimberly Reed has also directed the film included in the work.

The libretto can be downloaded from the BAM website.